Information Technology or Information Communications Technology “is a general term that describes any technology that helps to produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information.” (Information technology, 2010)
Information technology is widely present in our society today and is increasingly developing. To be able to keep up with the demands of the fast paced society we live in we are required to keep up with the new technologies being introduced. Technology has become common place across all areas of work, leisure and play from computers at a work station to ipods to listen to while running.
Some of the devices I feel most comfortable using are: laptops and most of the programmes on them, music devices like ipods and mp3s, digital cameras and cell phones and online communities such as facebook, wikpedia and twitter. These technologies have all been relatively new while I have been growing up so it wasn’t difficult for me to adjust to the new developments.
Information Technology is being used in Occupational Therapy practice through:
• Emails to liaise with other health professionals
• Internet for a research tool
• Assessments of clients abilities and capacities
There are a number of ethical implications that arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via Information Technologies such as misuse of the information given out, identity theft and fraud.
Computer Ethics is “a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct” (Computer ethics, 2010)
Intellectual Property 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” (Intellectual property, 2010)
Social justice “is the application of the concept of justice on a social scale” 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. (Social justice, 2010)
Informed consent “is a phrase often used in the law to indicate that the consent a person gives meets certain minimum standards” (Informed consent, 2010)
A greater understanding of ITC will provide us with the ability to see how we as Occupational Therapists can incorporate this in our treatments and overall practice, since technology is on a constant incline in terms of development. We will have knowledge to determine the usability of the technology to best suit the client’s needs and also the ethical issues involved such as privacy and informed consent.
Reference:
Computer ethics. (2010, May 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Computer_ethics&oldid=360496943
Information technology. (2010, June 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Information_technology&oldid=367571191
Informed consent. (2010, June 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Informed_consent&oldid=367195453
Intellectual property. (2010, June 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intellectual_property&oldid=366993205
Social justice. (2010, June 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_justice&oldid=367021722
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