Information Technology and Ethical Concerns, Tutorial One

   

Purpose

The main purpose of this blog is to discuss Information and Communication Technology and how it has influenced society, as well and its common place. It will also explain the IT devices that people use in their daily occupations to allow feasible completion. Mention will be made to human occupations and how their occupations have a common connection to the way they use technology. This post will cover the importance that the Occupational Therapy process has in society and the link it has to the science of occupation, followed by a brief over view of the development of Occupational Therapy and Technology in the past decade. Lastly outline some of the ethical issues that society currently faces, and how these will potentially affect societies functioning in the future

Introduction

Occupational Therapists are being ‘described as an enabler, who facilitates clients rather than doing things for them,'(Townsend, 2002, p. 3). Occupational therapy links to Occupational Science, as there is a manipulation of the context and being occupied is the essence of being human. The Occupational Therapy is no longer solely vigilant of the environment but now focusing on the intrinsic importance that a person will gain when partaking in meaningful occupations.

The key concept to this unpinning process is the manipulation the environment. This is done by adapting the task (s) to support and facilitate both physical and mental rehabilitation. This is to ensure a positive outcome in their performance. This is important to understand, as technology is enabling Occupational Therapists to manipulate the environment to grant completion of activities of daily living. Information technology can be defined as, "The total knowledge and skills available to any given society", (Collins Concise Dictionary, 1998). The World Bank defines ICTs (Information, Communication Technology) as “the set of activities which facilitate by electronic means the processing, transmission and display of information” (United Nations, 2003).Therefore it could be interpreted as, the resources that society has, can potentially shape and develop the way society functions. It is the process and representative of information that allows people to learn and develop to become more independent in their daily living. Technology also aids the performance to guarantee the client is able to achieve their daily occupations. Daily occupations consist of leisure, work, play and self care, activities of daily living, (ADLs). ICTs is about sharing, delivering, and gathering information to allow communication through technological devices

Technologies place in society

Technology can come in forms of web pages, cell phones and electrical equipment all of which give people the ability to function in society with minimal care or assistance. It has is able to manipulate the persons current situation, and change to suit the persons environmental, physical or psychological needs. It is allowing people to communicate with the wider world. People have the ability to send messages, weather reports, and allow people to have a greater understanding of other cultures and people across the world. All of these can be done simply by recording a video clip, or the use of Skype to interact with the recipients. You tube is a method that people share information in a meaningful way. An example is attached which demonstrates a how to tie shoe laces, resulting in a great educational source for the young and old.

The domain of concern is the common place, in which technology is used. For many people it is a part of their everyday routines. Nevertheless there are people in society may not use computers and technological devices, because it doesn’t seem attractive, pleasant or they simply may not have the need, or knowledge to use it, therefore they do not use it. It is vital that Occupational Therapists comprehend the purpose, and regard to the client’s needs to decide whether technology will advance their occupation doing. This is because if we are going to intervene in other people’s lives then we need to know ‘our place’ and how it is best to support their needs in daily occupations in their common environments. Technology is used as a therapeutic tool and must be used in the correct environment and the right time to assure it benefits the person. By signifying the ‘problem’, the correct tools can result in triggering an positive action causing an effect on the clients performance. Technology is a therapeutic intervention, and one particular form of technology that is highly effective is, video games. A video game is “game software available on CDs or DVDs requiring a TV or specialized computer desktop for display” (Computer Desktop Encyclopedia, 1981-2008). The benefits of video games are most effective with pain management. However it also increased the range of motion of patients whom had sustained a traumatic brain injury “there was an increase in the arm reach with people with traumatic brain, and significantly the range of motion increased in all 20 patients”, (Siestema, 1993). It was also discovered that, patients who had acquired burns to their upper limbs, the method of using video games was beneficial. There was a plan written up, that contained of using of “different sized joysticks which, shaped the movement of the hand, wrist and the elbow”, (Griffiths, 2005). It has also been stated that it can help with children who have Autism “It’s no secret that Mario is a big favorite with children and has been for decades now but children with Autism may see a lot of extra benefits from playing his games, you just have to be careful which ones and for how long”(Duncan, 2010). There are certain limitations and precautions that need to be taken into consideration when contemplating if this method would be beneficial to the client. There are many loop holes in the Internet, resulting in a risk of information about clients been publicised. Over stimulation of games can cause a mild increasing the likely hood of aggression, frustration and a deterioration of the client.

Ethical issues and concerns with technology

One of the concerns that are associated with technology is the potential for isolation among those who use and demand it for everyday use. This occurs when people unconsciously pull away from their roles and routines, and become fixated on the device, game, or project. This can lead to poor social skills, communication barriers, self care deterioration, and/ or mental health disorders. As society is vastly developing people are becoming dependant on technology too work, as well as encompassing the attitude that ‘the newer the better’. This is causing a digital divide within society, consequentially due to inequality of access to technological devices. Therefore the comment of the Internet and Technology are being a form of ‘democratic technology’ would then suggest that society would have to increase the access and ability of technological devices. Although the Internet is a place where people are able to express their political opinions, communicate, educate, and share relations, it is next to impossible to make these choices without being unbiased. This is partly due to the social insecurities that one may have, and the drive to be accepted. Ethical issues can come in the form of storage for personal information. Social networks have an increasingly amount of space for personal information which has the impending possibility, your personal information is sold for monetary gain. Ethical situations could take form in security as hacking takes place and can result in positive and negative situations. A positive situation would be when the police hack into a computer to reveal a potential predator that is threatening to society. On the other hand a negative situation would be when someone hacks into a computer to discover personal information and begins to threaten, which is a blatant invasion of privacy and human rights. Then finial ethical issue is the downloading of software. Software is described as “a series of instructions that performs particular task called a programme” (Computer Desktop Encyclopedia, 1981-2008). This takes form by copy writing music or movies. This comes down to the person’s choice to make decisions based on external factors and creating their own code of ethics.

Occupational Therapy links to wider society

Intellectual property, is commonly known as IP “refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce”, (United Nations, 2003). “Occupational therapists are creative by design and are enablers of occupation engagement they often develop innovative assistive technologies” (Pain,2008). However due to the lack of internal resources for handling intellectual property they have an informational disadvantage. Internal resources can take form in engineers, researchers, teachers, and lawyers. It can be difficult for Occupational Therapists to connect with internal resources, and they can face a lot of criticism for the behavior. The ‘free movement’ groups oppose intellectual property as they believe it harms the health of the person and others effected, it is preventing progress of the person, and it is simply to make the suppliers richer. Richard Stallman argues that it "operates as a catch-all to lump together disparate laws [which] originated separately, evolved differently, cover different activities, have different rules, and raise different public policy issues" ( Wikipedia, 2011). 

Social justice is what occupational therapists need to be aware of in a community and clinical based setting. Social justice can be referred to as “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”, (Wikipedia, 2011). It is important in general society that everybody gets equal rights and is treated with the respect that they deserve. The practice of Occupational Therapy strongly believes in obtaining social justice in society; however be complex at times due to personal and environmental aspects. These can vary from personal beliefs and interpretations on the situation to economic based reasons or environmental barriers. Each aspect the Occupational Therapists needs to be conscious to encourage the finest outcome. This is due to acquiring the right of social inclusion and occupational justice that the person desires. In which concerns the practice of occupation therapy as it is based on human occupations.

Occupational therapists in practice need to gain and give informed consent to verify certain agreements with those involved. Informed consent is “whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon a appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications on action”, (Wikipedia, 2011). This is vital to the safety of the occupational therapist and the place of employment, as an incident may occur and prosecution is desired action one is wanting to impose. It allows the client to be informed of the process, permitting them to put across their preferred opinion on their rehabilitation process. 

Link to the Ethics in Information Technology

<a href="http://www.ehow.com/facts_5764997_code-ethics-information-technology.html?sms_ss=blogger&amp;at_xt=4d84d0db3d46178a%2C0">Code of Ethics in Information Technology eHow.com</a>

Link to an article based on the benefits of games for those with a variety of impairments
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/10_Benefits_Of_Video_Games.html

References
Collins, H. (1998). Collins Concise Dictionary, London, England
Computer Desktop Encyclopaedia, ©1981-2008
Duncan, S. (2010). Mario Bros video games as an Autism Treatment. Retrieved, 16/05/2011, From http://www.stuartduncan.name/autism/mario-bros-video-games-as-an-autism-treatment/
Griffiths, M., Grey, P. (2005). Video games as a therapeutic tool. Naldex, 2007, From www.naldex.co.uk.page.cfm/link=115 ,Retrieved 20/03/11.
Pain, TK. (2006). An Occupational Therapists intellectual property: FAQs. Occupational Therapy Now, (8) 3
Sietsema, JM. Nelson, PL. (1993). The use of a game to promote arm reach in persons with traumatic brain injury, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47(1), 19-24
Townsend, C. (2002). Introduction of Occupational; The Art and Science of Living, New Jersey, Pearson Upper Saddle River©
United Nations, (2003). Conference on trade and development, Information and communication technology indices, United Nations New York, & Geneva.
Verdonck, MC,. Ryan, S. (2008). Mainstream Technology as an Occupational Therapy Tool: Technophobe or Technogeek?, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, (71) 6,253-256.
www.Wikipedia.org.wiki/intellectual_information Retrieved 20/03/11
www.Wikipedia.org.wiki/intellectual_information Retrieved, 20/03/11
www.Wikipedia.org.wiki/social_Justice Retrieved, 20/03/11