Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Introducing my first blog post...

Information Technology (IT) is "the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information" (wordnet search).  In other words, the inteligence that links the world to one another.

Technology is all around us in the year 2011.  Student's watch lectures online with an audio file to listen to.  People can do all their weekly grocery shopping online and have in delivered to their homes withtin the hour.  Cellphones, ipods, electronic day planners can all be within arms reach every day as they are conviniently designed to fit perfectly into any handbag or back pocket.  As you can see IT has most definitely become a big part of almost every persons daily life.

The IT devices or systems I feel comfortable using are as follows:
-  Cell phones                    
-  Internet explorer and Firefox
-  Ipod touch
-  Computer programs such as microsoft word, Itunes, media player, etc.

An example of IT being used in Occupational Therapy practice is the use of IT to enhance communication skills such as a Dynavox.  A dynavox is an augmented communicator.  The device displays concrete scenes and symbols that represent ideas and objects which are then spoken aloud through the speakers once the user has touched the screen.  Here is an example of a dynavox being used...

Some of the ehical issues that arise when adopting IT systems and tools into practice are things such as privacy issues, having an up-to-date knowledge about the IT being used, skills, and of course the safety of the client is our number one priority.

Intellectual Property - this is the physical expressions of ideas and the creations of the mind that are contained in books, music, plays, movies, news presentations and computer software.  Intellectual property may be the idea that the person who thought of it has ownership over, or in some cases if they are working for a company for example, the company may own the idea as the worker is paid to think up these ideas.

Social Justice - this is the application of equal rights for those in society made available by the law on a social scale.

Informed Consent - this is a term often used in law that indicates that a person gives consent for a piece of material personal to them to be used by others.

References:

Informed consent (2011).  Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent.

Social justice (2011).  Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice.

What is intellectual property? (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/.