There are soo many definitions of technology as what it means to one person may not mean the same thing to another. The one that defines it the best for me is: “ information technology n. the production, storage and communication using computers and other microelectronics”. (Hanks, 1989). To me it’s all about being about to communicate with others, especially those in another area, someone you lost contact with after college and so on.
Technology has well and truly advanced over the years and will no doubt continue to do so. Today there is such a need for technology that society has become largely dependent on it. Cellphones for staying in constant contact, internet communication sites to connect with others around the world, a way of watching movies either on a DVD or online, photo sharing and so much more. Technology may help or be a hindrance for people. For example a decent chunk of my courses’ content is online.
This YouTube clip depicts how technology has advanced and how common place it is:
(Mwesch, 2007)
I feel quite confident in using a variety of technology devices. Computers, cell phones, USB, external hard drives, iPod, digital cameras, Television, DVD players, Stereo systems,
I’m not keen on using small instrumental devise such as an Electric can opener, or web cams.
If I don’t know how some works I will usually spend a while trying to figure it out before asking for help or finding out how to use it/reading phamplets. Some times spending a good couple hours trying to work something out!
Limits/expand IT use? It would all depend on what I required the technology for as to if I believed there was a use or a point in learning a new technology.
Technology can be used in many ways for purposeful occupation.
Computers can be used to play online games, interact with others/talk to friends that are not living in the same town/country. Televisions to watch programs and movies.
Technology has it’s place in just about any aspect of life. Occupational Therapists are able to use such devices to enhance quality of both clients and their own practice.
When on a placement, we could use the computer to look up YouTube music clips for clients that loved particular songs that the placement didn’t have on a CD, using a digital camera for taking photos of clients in action while in a craft group, an electric wheelchair ramp so clients can go out and about for drives.
Some implications of using technology in practice are the ease in which client notes can be accessed, some may hinder a clients treatment, high costs of technology,
I believe it is essential to have an understanding and be able to use or find out how to use technology in practice as some technology may help some clients to reach their potentials ie a non verbal person may be able to use a device or program that will speak for them.
One of the many uses of technology in Occupational Therapy Practice:
(TechnologynOT, 2009)
Ethical considerations:
There are several ethical aspects that need to be considered when it comes using technology. It’s all very well in having cameras, video recorders, phones, and so on at our fingertips, but we need to know what the limits are when capturing, sharing and/or transferring information and documents through the use of technology. When posting things on the internet, whether it be blogs, Facebook, Twitter, we need to make sure were are doing so ethically. Asking for permission from a friends to take a photo, acknowledging authors,
Social justice, informed consent, intellectual property are just some of these ethical considerations.
Informed Consent: ‘Informed consent is a phrase often used in law to indicate that the consent a person gives meets certain minimum standards. An informed consent can be said to have been given based upon a clear appreciation and understanding of the facts, implications, and future consequences of an action’ (Informed consent, 2012). People must be given all the information, options, and have the chance deciding what is best for them. No matter what we are doing, capturing, sharing, linking we need to make sure we have permission to use information either from directly from a person themselves or indirectly via a website by referencing sources used.
Intellectual property: ‘is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized under the corresponding fields of law’ (Intellectual property, 2012). This pertains to anything that is created by anyone such as a blog posting, a status update on Facebook, videos, documents and so on. It’s important when using or referring to another persons’ work that it is acknowledged in some way to let others know that it wasn’t actually your idea.
Social Justice:
‘Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being’ (Social justice, 2012). This means that everyone has the right to the same choices and resources and anyone else. Asking for permission and acknowledging authors of a clip, posting, photo etc are just a few principles
References:
Hanks, P. (Ed). (1989). Collins concise dictionary. Glasgow: bath press
‘Informed consent’. (2012). Retrieved March 9 , 2012, from http://en.wikipedia/wiki/Informed_consent
‘Intellectual property’. (2012). Retrieved march 9, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property
Mwesch. (2007, January 31). Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
‘Social Justice’. (2012). Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice
TechnologynOT. (2009, November 9). Retrieved March 9, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Bf9Sv8JdE
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