Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Information technology: “Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. Information technology is a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information.”(Retrieved, June, 7, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology)

Information technology (IT) is very prevalent in our society. Most households have computers and are therefore, IT implemented by our day-to-day living of humans situated in New Zealand.

Information technology has become increasingly common in our day-to-day lives. Individuals use with within their offices, in their home, to keep in contact with different sources, for school work or learning purposes and for recreational use.

As new Zealand is a reasonably well off country, families and individuals are able to purchase and therefore obtain the equipment to participate within IT, and continually to do so daily, for many people.

I personally am not very comfortable or competent whilst using IT devises however, I have had to learn to use specific IT systems for my learning as I constantly need to research different topics and write essays, for example.

In the near future I do, however, intend on gaining confidence and further knowledge with relation to information technology.

Thinking about your own fieldwork experiences consider how IT is being used in Occupational Therapy practice?

During my occupational therapy placement I found that IT was used rather often, whether it is for researching different or rare conditions to working out rosters or keeping clients progress notes upon.

There are a variety of different reasons why Occupational Therapists need to and should be familiar with numerous technology systems, such as IT. One important reason is, as we as Occupational therapist are concerned with promoting individuals health and well-being though occupation, thus we need to be familiar with potential common and highly recognised occupation as these could be occupations that we are constantly dealing with.

Another area in which information technology and Occupational therapy over lap is the subject of assistive technology. Assistive technology is The Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (US Public Law 100-407) states that it is "technology designed to be utilized in an assistive technology device or assistive technology service."(Retrieved, June, 7, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology)

As sharing and transferring information via information technology devices has become so common, it has much easier so send information to numerous individuals without any real effort, therefore is don’t often without thinking about the consequences (if any).

The ease of sharing information has also affected individual’s privacy. Information is regularly shared or uploaded to web-sites etc without the consent of the individuals that the information, such as a picture or video, is in relation to.

Computer ethics: is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct.(Retrieved, June, 7, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics)

“Intellectual property (IP) is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which property rights are recognized--and the corresponding fields of law. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property include copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets in some jurisdictions.”(Retrieved, June, 7, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property)

Social justice: “is the application of the concept of justice on a social scale. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality and involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. These policies aim to achieve what developmental economists refer to as more equality of opportunity than may currently exist in some societies, and to manufacture equality of outcome in cases where incidental inequalities appear in a procedurally just system.”(Retrieved, June,7,2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice)

Informed consent: is an expression often used to specify 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. In order to give informed consent, the individual concerned must have adequate reasoning faculties and be in possession of all relevant facts at the time consent is given.(Retrieved, June, 7, 2010, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent)

Having knowledge and a simple understanding of the possible ethical issues in relation to information technology can have a very positive effect on the way we use and view technology. I believe that the phrase “treat one as you would like to be treated” should also apply when sharing information, such as photos or videos. This would lessen the “uploading abuse” that we corrently have within our society.