Thursday, June 11, 2009

Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Provide a definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology (APA reference required)
Information technology (IT), is defined as producing, sorting and communicating information with the use of a computer which is use to manage and store, which can later be retrieved and reviewed before sending (Allen, 2004).


Allen, R. (consultant editor). (2004). The penguin english dictionary. London: Penguin Books


Consider the definition of IT you have provided. How is this form of technology prevalent in our society? How common place has it become?
This form of technology is used within healthcare to store patient records and file information. IT has been incorporated into everyday life especially in the form of computers for storing files and documents and is forever changing and upgrading to new forms

What IT devices or system do you feel comfortable and competent using?
Internet, cellphone, digital camera, photocopier, fax, word processing software

Thinking about your own fieldwork experiences consider how IT is being used in Occupational Therapy practice?
With clinical notes being documented in the hospital setting
Using faxes to send documents to other relevant team members or to request equipment or verification of
Taking photos to show users i.e. staff how to use devices and equipment
Communicating between various team members with cell phones and keeping in contact
Being able to photograph group sessions, outings, clients achievements
Research purposes
Using word processing documents for professional purposes
To keep record of files and documents i.e. having the ability to store items

What ethical implications arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet)
Privacy and confidentiality if the person is not aware or informed
Viruses attacking the system when using the internet if it is not protected efficiently
The wrong people may access the information or images and use them inappropriately


Provide a definition of Computer Ethics (APA reference required)
Computer Ethics is a domain incorporating useful philosophy in which computer professionals base decisions around professional and social conduct



Retrieved February 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics


Provide a definition of Intellectual Property (APA reference required)

Intellectual property represents the property of your mind or intellect. Forms of intellectual property include; invention, trade mark, original design or the practical application of a good idea.
Retrieved February 14, 2007, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property








Provide a definition of Social Justice (APA reference required)

Social justice mostly refers to an ideal of society, where "justice" refers to economic status rather than to the administration of laws. It is based on the idea of a society which gives individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society, although what is "fair treatment" and a "just share" must remain unclear or subject to interpretation



Retreived Februry 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice



Provide a definition of Informed Consent (APA reference required)

Informed consent is a legal condition involving a person giving their consent after being provided with clear facts of what they are consenting to and being informed of implications that may. To give consent the individual must possess the ability to reason In order to give informed consent, the individual concerned must have adequate reasoning faculties and be in aware of all the necessary information at the time of consent (Berg et al, 2001)
Informed Consent: Legal Theory and Clinical Practice by Jessica W. Berg, Paul S. Appelbaum, Lisa S. Parker, and Charles W. Lidz, Oxford University Press, 2001


In your own words briefly summarise why (or why not) a great understanding of ITC and the ethical issues it encompasses will help us in our practice and daily lives.
It is important to have an understanding ofITC and ethical issues involved especially when working with clients in practice so that we can fully inform them of their rights and the risks involved within a given context
Tutorial Two: Digital Camera use and applications

Below are the questions we wish to address in this tutorial. Students are reminded that they will be posting this information to their individual blogs so will need to provide a context for potential readers

“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”. Briefly discuss this statement in relation to digital camera technology. What would you consider to be some of the pluses and minuses digital camera technology holds in relation to more traditional film based cameras?
The above statement holds true only for new technology as technology progresses demand for a complete feature set often leads for the feature gap between the new and old technology to be closed within one to two years
Digital cameras pluses
- You can immediately see the picture
- You can manipulate the photos in the camera
- You can print hard copies
- You can erase the image
- You can download the photos and use advanced software for image manipulation
- Digital images are easily distributed to friends and colleagues via email etc
- The digital format of the pictures easily integrates with digital technology e.g. digital photo frames
Minuses
- They have higher power requirements than film based cameras
- The higher power requirements reduce the usage time of the camera
- The cost of the technology
- Digital cameras are usually more expensive than their film based counterparts
- Due to the complexity of the technology there are more points of failure
Film based camera pluses
- There are more accessories available- lenses etc
- Higher resolution film; although this gap is closing
- Higher shutter speeds
- These cameras can be on standby for months if not years with one set of batteries
- Better quality shots
Minuses
- Film is expensive to purchase
- You need specialized films for different situations
- Number of photos is limited by the availability of film i.e. the number of shots on the roll






List some of the ways that digital images can be stored transferred and manipulated using other communications technology.
Online i.e. flickr
Email
On the computer
Skype
Posted on sites i.e. facebook and bebo for friends to view





Given the prevalence of image capturing devices, and thinking about the issues discussed in tutorial one, consider what sort of ethical issues may arise with their use.
Privacy
Gaining consent before taking pictures or posting them to sites
Its easy to take photos without the subjects knowledge i.e. cell phones are discrete
What the subject sees may not necessarily be the final image that it is used for





Briefly discuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are, being used in occupational therapy practice (include reference and links to any web sites, or blogs you might come across)
Pictures of how to set up/use equipment i.e. for staff in rest homes, hospitals that are not familiar with the usage
Pictures of clients when they participate or attend activities, events or even within the care facility such as with the activities coordinator or when performers come in










Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Flickr.com
Flickr is a website that is used to host videos and images along with websites and service suites along with online communities. It is utilized for peopled to share with others their personal photos and is used by people that use blogs for a photo storage area


Name one other photo storage website which offers a service similar to Flickr.com
Shutterfly which is an internet based site that is used for posting personal images and data









Explain what the difference is between a digital and an optical zoom
A digital zoom is defined as the means of decreasing an angle of view of a digital image it is achieved by cropping the image to the same as the original, this is done electronically which means that nothing needs to be changed with the cameras optics ( Wikipedia, 2009) in comparison to an optical zoom which is defined as using optics i.e. the lens to bring a subject closer just like when using a magnifying glass


Explain what is meant by the term megapixel
A megapixel is defined as a million pixels, which are units of graphics data, transfer speed or image resolution. It can also be referred to when looking at the amount of image sensor elements within digital cameras or display elements within the digital display area
Task Five (Blog Posting): Provide a brief account (1-2 paragraphs) on how the use of planning (storyboarding and scripting aided your groups short film.
By planning out a storyboard after deciding on the topic for the short film it helps to give an idea of what is to be recorded and that the required equipment can be implemented. First a subject is selected to film, then who will be involved needs to be taken into account and where shooting will take effect, a script is then made and the drawing out of a storyboard which is a detailed account of the planned shots to take place
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Tutorial Six: The internet and online communities

Search online for a community which interest you, make sure you select a community that comprises some form of online forum, discussion page or chat room. You may also wish to see if your community has a Wikipedia entry.

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating
Facebook is the community that I will look at and the web address is

http://www.facebook.com/


What is the brief or focus of this community
Facebook is a social network that was designed to help people connect with each other from around the world whether it be old friends, classmates, colleagues or new friends. It is a site where people can share experiences, post updates about their life, photos, do quizzes and chat to others









What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?
Sharing of information
Photo viewing
Quizzes
Online games
Facebook is very interactive as members are able to post items and chat to other members
People can contribute by posting comments on other member profiles, creating new quizzes, joining communities

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?
People chose to contribute to this community as they are able to find and connect with friends old and new alike and share events, photos, updates. They may want to make new friends, check what their friends are up to, fill in time by playing games



Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your excerpt).
Anything that a member wishes to discuss, whether it be personal photos, events, quizzes, joining groups
· Frintro: Find friends of friends to date...or play matchmaker! If you're single, you can search your friends' friends and ask for intros. If you're taken, you can set friends up. Friends of friends are the best people to date. It's social dating via friendly intros.
· Funji: Funji is an avatar-based social networking app for the iPhone and iPod touch, satisfying users' desire to express themselves and communicate with others in a fun, creative way. The team has more than five years of experience in the mobile market in both South Korea and the US.
· Gameyola: Gameyola is a distribution and monetization platform for casual Flash games. Flash games currently monetize poorly, but Gameyola solves this problem by providing Flash developers tools to sell virtual goods and to acquire users through social channels.
· Life360 (private beta): From keeping track of your kids to protecting your identity and getting back your lost stuff, Life360 is the place you go to keep your family safe, secure, and prepared for daily life.
· MyChurch.org: Churches create their own social networks on MyChurch.org. They extend their community between Sundays with tools to connect and engage their members. Over 30,000 church congregations are represented on MyChurch.org.
· Navify: Navify is a visual encyclopedia that combines Wikipedia articles with images, videos, and comments. It is the only general encyclopedia that allows you to listen to music videos, watch movie trailers, and browse news and celebrity photo galleries.
· Nutshell Mail: Simplify the way you manage Facebook and other social networks. NutshellMail consolidates activity from all your accounts into a single email digest delivered on your schedule. Don't let email alerts clutter your inbox. Get informed, not interrupted. Get the Nut!
· Networked Blogs: Bring your blog to Facebook, and Facebook to your blog. Pull your Feed to your profile and business pages, add widgets to promote your network, and read the news from blogs you follow on the largest community of bloggers and blog lovers on Facebook.
· Paradise Paintball 3D: Paradise Paintball is the first game developed on Cmune's next-generation social gaming platform. It is the first casual, 3D multiplayer FPS game on Facebook, Apple Dashboard, and Mac and PC. Play with up to eight friends and buy virtual items to enhance the gameplay.
· Photos I Like: Photos I Like is a digital media sharing and discovery site emphasizing lightweight social content, self-expression, and communities.
· RentMineOnline: Combines the success of resident referral programs with the power of social networks. Residents refer their community to friends through social networks like Facebook, and email to earn rewards and live with friends.
· RUNmyERRAND: RUNmyERRAND is a social networking inspired web and mobile marketplace that provides people and businesses an easy and trusted way to get everyday tasks done in their own hyperlocal community.
· RunThere: RunThere is a social-networking service for runners and cyclists. Users can map and measure their favorite routes (no GPS required), keep a running/biking log, and find athletes and routes nearby
· Sortuv: Sortuv lets you start with something you like, and discover more. Instead of searching for a "great restaurant" just say what you mean: "Find me a place sortuv like Spago in Seattle". Check them out on the Web, on the iPhone, and on Facebook.
· TravelBrain/GeckoGo: Travel Brain by GeckoGo helps you track (and show off!) your travels, share experiences with others, and discover new places to visit. Learn from the knowledge of over 600,000 travelers, and get expert guide info from their Bradt Travel Guides partnership.
· Weardrobe (private beta): Weardrobe is a fashion-focused community for discovering different ways to wear clothing. Weardrobe provides a platform for people to share reviews of their own clothing, post photos of their looks, catalog their closet and search for style inspiration.
· Workstir: Workstir is a community that connects users with trustworthy local service providers. Anyone can post a job and choose a provider with confidence by browsing their past reviews. For businesses, Workstir provides a wealth of jobs in their area of expertise.
· Worldly Developments (private beta): Worldly Developments is building online services that will help you connect with the people, places and events in your local community. Its first product makes it a snap to plan, promote, and communicate around group activities.

Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.
Privacy issues due to members posting photos and not informing the person in the photo
Individuals can assume a new identity as there is no actual identity check required
Members can post anything they wish to

Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity
Members are able to connect with other members from all over the world via the computer as it is a virtual community in comparison to subcultures which are part of an actual community
Can view anyone’s status update anytime
Can make new friends worldwide without meeting them
Can find other members with similar interests and become friends


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.
Face to face interaction
In traditional communities individuals can share actual conversation
Tutorial Seven: Assistive technology

Provide a definition of Assistive technology (your Cook and Hussey reading may be helpful with this).
Assistive Technology is any piece of equipment that aids to increase , maintain and improve functional capabilities of individuals that have cognition, physical or communication problems (Bunning, (n.d.)





Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions.

The Alphasmart range which consists of two products the Dana and the Neo
NEO is the rugged, low-cost, lightweight, non-stop, power-writing notepad that provides quick and easy writing access from any location.

The size of the Neo is very compact therefore it is easy to transport and use anywhere

Product Code
$+GST
Product Name
Photo
ASCC
$50.00
AlphaSmart Carry Case
ASCC-NP
$50.00
AlphaSmart Neoprene Case
ASIR
$90.00
AlphaSmart Infra-Red Pod
ASNEO
$480.00
AlphaSmart Neo
ASNEO-CW
$270.00
Co:Writer for Neo
ASNEO-KIT
$600.00
Neo Standard Kit
ASNEO-PTR
$250.00
HP Multifunction Printer for Neo











References

Bunning, M. E., (n.d.). What is assistive technology? Retrieved on May 27, 2009, from http://www.access-by-design.com/journal/assist.htm
What is a LightWRITER?
A LightWRITER is an easy-to-use portable communication device. The user simply turns it on and types a message on the keyboard, which appears in the dual displays, and can be spoken out loud with DECtalk speech synthesis.
LightWRITERs are designed to help individuals with speech impairments, autism, laryngectomies, cerebral palsy, head injury, and persons with progressive conditions (i.e. ALS/MND) communicate. The LightWRITER is small, lightweight, and attractive in any situation. http://www.toby-churchill.com/en/content/lightwriters-0
For the course Participation in Occupation which is a second year paper for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy we were required to construct our own personal blog and post various tutorials to it. Services that are offered by Blogger include; a place to share your thoughts with others worldwide, photos, opinions, text, video, general information on topics and supports for illnesses and conditions, people can follow links to other sites and subscribe and make comments on blogs they wish to follow




Another blog host is Twitter