Information Technology and ethics - Tutorial 1

Before I apply information technology and ethics together and relate it to Occupational therapy I think it is important to define what these terms mean. The online oxford dictionary defines ethics as:

1) moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity
2) the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles. 


Personally i think Information technology is a difficult term to define. I have found some clips from the you tube site to help us understand the scope of information technology, as well as its place in our world.


Exploring IT within our social environment.


How common place has technology become?

Although some of us may find the use of Information technology frustrating we all need to accept that technology has become a part of our everyday lives and effects us through paid employment, communicating with other, socializing, and the list could go on. Technology has become a common place for human beings and personally i think this is due to our fast paced lives. The days of manually washing clothes sweeping floor and lighting fires for warmth and cooking have long gone. Today's technology allows us to shop online socialize on line quick communication through cellphones either by text messaging or sending pictures.

A significant occupation humans are involved in is record keeping which is exactly what i am doing right here on my blog. Face-book pages you tube videos digital camera all facilitate and allow people to emerge themselves in the ability to keep record and preserve memories and events.

What IT devices or systems do you feel comfortable and competent using?

I am yet to decide on my feelings and attitudes around technology. Modern technology has allowed me a faster and more convenient lifestyle but is this development  a destruction of some human occupations and a way of spending time and developing ourselves or is it just a greater way of doing things. For example: a leading debate i am exposed to constantly is the method of delivering teching for the Occupational therapy course. This degree that student pay thousands to par take in is primarilly self directed and delivered over the internet some papers are taught online. The debate: students are upset that they are not getting'adequate teaching' over the internet and suggest more face to face teaching as that is what they are paying for. Frustration is a high emotion for student as some of the online packages fail, or computers freeze or they just cant access files. This method of education solely relies on technologies rather than a classroom or lecture setting.

The education providers point of view: The benfits of online learning is that it is more flexible so it caters to people who wish to study in their own time and at their own pace. Online learning also means students are not haveing to constantly come into the polytech to learn therefore it allows courses to be conducted around the counrty you dont have to physically be a a tertiary education institute to par take. Its claimed that online learning also offers students with the learning styles which cater to all student - VARK.

This link explains VARK and contains the VARK questionaire.


IT has become common place to society today and that is something that all technology phobes need to get over. IT has both given us a more efficient and versatile world but along with that can bring stress and frustration.
- As i always say 'technology.. its great when it works".

How is IT being used in Occupational therapy practise?

During my first fieldwork placement in my first year of study i worked in an elderly mental health unit at Princess Margaret hospital in Christchurch. This ward had patients who suffered from severe depression and anxiety issues. The ward had a timetable of activities in which the patients were advised and incouraged to take part in. Being a first year student i participated in all the activities on the schedule. One of the activities which the patient did was play Nintendo wii (Wii hab). This was kept as basic easy games such as bowling which some of the patients really enjoyed as game play was used through technology to link the elderly to some sports/games such as bowls or golf that they used to take part in without leaving the ward. Part of my role was to facilitate this group and this activity worked well as it provided a pursose for the clients and gave them connection to things they enjoyed.

here is a link which presents- wii hab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjY8g98xVsg

What issues exist around OTs adoption of IT systems and tools?
The major issue that comes to mind for me is the use of support sites for people with health issues. This specifically refers to people suffering from eating disorders. Websites have been set up in order for people to support oneanother in the recovery process in a confidential setting where you can remain anonymous. The complication here is with a unmonitored and ill found website the sufferers abused the websites purpose and turned it into a place where they support oneanothr in being a better anorexic or a better bulimic startegies for losing more weight etc.

This idea of online support groups can be a fantastic opportunity for people to connect and help oneanother however the purpose and facilitation of the site need to be carefully monitored so the site fulfills what its purpose is.

IT becoming a potential tool of practise for OT

I think IT has great potential for our practise. For example: Many programmes such as photoshop can aid both the therapist and client with an image of what their home may look like with housing or mods or alterations.
People who are isolated within there home environments have ability to reamain independent with the use of online shopping social network sites etc.

Despite this i think technology also needs to be kept in its place for our practise to be effective and not destructive. (refer to eating disorder eg above).
Occupational therapy should draw on what makes us human what occupies us. Technology does occupy people alot of the time so it should be explored in a therapeutic manner. However technology does allow people to be creative and explore make believe ideas and fantasies, become super humans.
for example look at the website second life



What ethical implications arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices?
- False identities and images on dating sites
- the ability to access personal information on others
- uploading images and videos of others without their permission

Within the healthcare system ethical issues regarding IT will always exist. this is in regards to patient files and who has access to them, losing information systems breaking down internet hackers and the 'accidental' misplacement of information.

The social network movie highlights ethical issues around what constantly happens due to IT

here is a link to the trailer (great movie) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4


Intellectual property:

This is a term which the film social network and the construction of the website face-book is associated with.
(see social network trailer - awesome movie!).


Intellectual property is ideas theories or concepts which people have come up with.
This is an article which relates intelectual property and IT to OT practise.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7683/is_200705/ai_n32232270/


Social justice:


social justice is a term which states that all individuals should be treated equally and fairly amoung others.

Here is an article which outlines how social justice can apply to OT.


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7683/is_201101/ai_n56827763/?tag=content;col1

Informed consent:definition


Informed consent means that a person has given the appreciation and understanding of the facts, implications, and future consequences of an action.
these articles link informed consent to a health perspective.