My first (proper) posting for this blog is going to be about Information Technology (IT) and Ethical Issues around this.
IT is the area of managing technology. It spans to a wide variety of areas that include things such as processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware, programming languages, and data constructs (Salaam, L. 2011).
I find this as a good definition, and can not put it into any clearer words.
IT is used in everyday life. I'm using it right now. Its a wonder how they used to do things in the "olden days" without technology. It is used for social reasons, gaming, storing data, collating data. In fact the list goes on too long that I'm not going to write it all down. For me personally, my phone is glued to my hand, facebook is only a click away as my laptop is hanging off my shoulder and I'm not exactly camera shy.
I find all these things as a NECESSITY! But then i think about it, they did survive back in the "olden days" without this stuff. We have become reliant on technology in our everyday life. Another example is assignments. These days our assignments like our humanities essay, or concepts in health HAD to be written on a computer and handed in online. What would we do without it ay?!?! I find using majority of the technology today pretty easy. I also find the new stuff that I'm introduced to e.g. the iPad rather easy to pick up on after a few hours of "playing." Limits.. They would have to be access to power sources to charge/ plug in my piece of IT. Also the lack of access to certain technologies, for example money, and lack of it. Some come at a high price, which limits my use.
Here is a link to how information technology has progressed over the years. It's quite amazing : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY
So.. Linking it back to OT and how it fits in there I can think of a few ways it does after being on fieldwork. First thing that I saw when I arrived on placement was my supervisor sitting on her computer writing up notes. To order equipment for our clients we would have to use the computer to access enableNZ's order forms. My supervisor would use the phone to call the clients to organise meeting times. She would also use her cellphone to ring clients when we were out in the community. It was also a safety requirement. All our clients past medical notes were held on the computer and were just a click away.
Next, when you think about clients actual occupations IT comes into it alot. After reading the article Computer Games and Karate: the Arts and Crafts of Today written by Chard, G (2007) I have realised how much IT can play a part in our therapy. The new technology such as computers, ipods and email are the new arts, and computer games, using Xboxes and the internet are the new crafts (Chard, G. 2007). Therefore us OT's will be incorporating these into treatment plans as they may be meaningful occupations to some.
The issues around using IT in OT will be things such as some peoples capabilities (and lack of) when it comes to using these. Also I find that if a computer crashes, and thats the only place with stored information on a client, then there may be a bit of a problem. Things around ethics will also become an issue.
Thinking about how IT will become in good use for OT's, I wondered that maybe if in future OT's will be videoing their sessions teaching clients how to do certain exercises, or to use equipment which they can take home with them and look through at any time.
I then found this link on youtube which is sort of illustrating my thoughts : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjIzEaUILo&feature=related
Why do I think that the use of IT will help us in our practice and daily life? Well, the world is forever developing, so therefore technology will too develop. Watching my parents try and cope with the new technologies is a little bit of a joke, and I think if they had kept on top of technology, there wouldn't be such a barrier. In our practice we will forever be using it, whether it be to access someone's records, or incorporating it into therapy sessions.
Obviously when working with IT, there are always ethical considerations that come within it. An example we used in class was taking photos of children at school. Teachers need specific permission to take photos of kids, and post them on a newsletter/ website. Another example is when using information off a website, you must be referenced correctly, and not violate any plagiarism.
Thats all for this blog
Til next time..
Gemma
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