Hello there! This is my course blog for Participation in Occupation 1. This blog will help me to learn about and discuss the use of technology in Occupational Therapy.
In this tutorial we discussed video production. We talked about the use of storyboards and scene planning. We got to play around with video cameras and figure out how they worked. Then we split into small groups to make a movie. Our small group launched straight into it and filmed many shots. We edited these into a short film. Below is the movie that we made in class. In it we explore the theme "overcoming adversity". Our extremely talented actor comes across several stumbling blocks while attempting to get his books from the library to the locker room. He is however creative in his thinking and manages to get the job done.
There are many different ways to create transport, and store photos. As well as traditional cameras, other information technologies hardware now have the capability to take and store photos. Some examples of these include Ipods, cellphones, MP3 players and computers fitted with webcams. there are many sites that discuss the pros and cons of various photo options. This site has information and news about different digital cameras.
Photo's can be used in different ways to enhance information and provide a visual aid to some knowledge. Here are some examples.
This family history site explains a software that aids the use of photos in genealogical research. It also discusses how the use of photos has become more common in this type of research.
Flickr is a site which enables people to upload share and store thier photos. Photos can be kept private or shared with the general public. Photos from Flickr can be made into a badge. These can be added a website or blog. On the side of this blog you will see a badge I made with photos of the Dunedin Railway Station. The theme of this is Place. the railway station is a place that I really like. It is a beautiful old building that symbolises the heritage nature of Dunedin city.
Snapfish is another site like Flickr, however it also sells photo books and prints.
Digital vs. Film
There is a great debate about whether digital photos are better than traditional photos or not. here are some of the pros and cons of both sides.
Traditional Cameras/Photos
Pros:
Fun to develop.
Clearer colour tones.
Anticipation of what you'll get.
Surprise about what develops.
Cons:
Photos damage easily
Photos can be damaged during development process.
If you lose the negatives you can't get the photo back.
Digital Cameras/Photos
Pros:
Fast.
Really easy.
More people have acess to them.
Cons:
Non standard batteries/cables
Risk of losing photos stored on the computer.
restricted life of storage devices eg: cd's.
Ethical Issues
As with all information technology there are ethical issues that surround the use of photos. There are issues about getting a person's informed consent and who owns a photo the photographer or the subject?
One area where the ethics of photos is uncertain is the taking of photos in public places. Here is an article that discusses the New Zealand perspective on taking photos in a public place. It presents a court case where the defendant was convicted of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place for taking inappropriate photos of people without their knowledge.
Photos in Occupational Therapy
Photos can be used in several ways to enhance occupational therapy practice. Most product catalogues have photos of the products in them. Photos can be used to show clients correct techniques. Photography is also a very meaningful occupation for some people. This means that photography can be used as part of an intervention plan. If a therapist gets informed consent from the client they can also use photos to record progress through each intervention session.
In our first class a few weeks ago we discussed information technology and ethics. Here are a few thoughts and ideas that I have developed around these two concepts.
Information Technology
Firstly what is IT?
Tech Terms which is an online dictionary of computer language says:
“IT Stands for "Information Technology," and is pronounced "I.T." It refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies.”
(The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary (2011). IT (Information Technology). Retrieved from http://www.techterms.com/definition/it)
For me this definition says a lot. It covers a range of different aspects of IT. However it could be argued that the field of IT has become broader and now includes phones, Ipods, MP3 players, game consoles and many other forms of electrical communication and storage devices.
Technology is an important pert of our society. Here is an interesting video about human culture and technology. It presents some thoughts about the way technology is now so linked with our culture.
My experiences with IT have been varied. I'm confident with cellphones, cameras TV and my Ipod. Sometimes I feel confident that my computer skills are great! Then something will go wrong and I'll be completely lost again. To be honest one thing I am a bit uncomfortable with is Blogging. Just because I'm a bit unsure about putting information out there for all to see.
Occupational therapy has developed many uses for technology. When I was on placement all of the therapists at the hospital had cellphones or pagers. This enabled fast communication between OT's and other health professionals. There was also a computer system where client notes and information could be obtained. Therapists and wheelchair technicians communicated via email. A lot of the paperwork for equipment was sent via email as well.
Technology is also used to improve clients' quality of life through home automation and electronic equipment. Everyday technology can be used as a tool for therapy this article that we looked at in class shows some ways this can be achieved.
Using technology in occupational therapy practice helps us to keep up to date. It improves our communication with both clients and other health professionals. Understanding technology can aid in developing rapport with some clients, as using technology may be very meaningful for them. In our modern society we are constantly surrounded by different technologies. Having an understanding of how to use it greatly improves our ability to engage with society.
Ethics
There are some very tricky ethical dilemmas that arise from the use of technology. When recording something it is important not to breach other peoples' privacy. There are issues around who a recording belongs to. Copying things is very easy with technology which leads to issues around copyright and ownership. Things can be said anonymously online which can lead to lack of responsibility for what is said. People are less discerning about what they say and do.
And finally here are some definitions of important terms that are used when talking about ethics and technology.
Intellectual Property
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (2011):
“Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.”
(Retrieved from http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/)
This means that if someone comes up with something it belongs to them and noone can use it without asking them or acknowledging them. In OT practice it is sometimes necessary to use evidence to back up clinical decisions. It is important that, if you use someone else's ideas or research, you acknowledge this as this is their intellectual property. It is just as important to acknowledge their intellectual property that is based on technology such as video, recordings ad online writing as it is to acknowledge their printed material.
Social Justice
McLaughlin & Muncie (2006) refer to Social Justice as:
“Fair distribution of opportunities, rewards and responsibilities in society. ”
(McLaughlin, E. & Muncie, J. (Eds.). (2006). The Sage dictionary of criminology. London: SAGE)
In a ideal society based on principles of social justice everyone would have equal access to benefits and opportunities. This includes new technologies. In OT practice the use of technologies with clients may be limited by the costs. Since there is often a large cost associated with new technologies often these may not be an option when working with clients. However an OT could advocate for funding for the client if the technology would be of great benefit to them.
Informed Consent
“Consent given with full knowledge of the risks involved, probable consequences, and the alternatives.”
(Business Dictionary.com (2011). Informed Consent. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/informed-consent.html)
This refers to the right of every human being to choose. Before undertaking any procedure, research or treatment with a person it is a legal requirement that you inform them of all the options and possible outcomes. They can then weigh up all of these and make a decision based on their own life experiences and goals. As an occupational therapist it is important to gain informed consent on many occasions. If you are wanting to record a client this is especially important. You need to explain what the information will be used for, who will see it and what will happen to the information after it has been used.
These are three important ethical concepts for occupational therapists to consider when dealing with Technology.
This video has excerpts of some of the most beautiful music ever. I think it is a lovely way to start a blog about occupation. Music is a form of occupation that is shared by many people. Both by playing, composing and listening.
