Digital Imaging

In this next posting I will cover some ways that digital images are stored, transferred and manipulated using information technology. I will then move on and briefly discuss the statement ' A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature' (this should be a super interesting topic to discuss!) Following this I will write about the ethical issues that arise given the prevelence of image capturing and and distribution using IT. Lastly I will briefly discuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are, being used in occupational therapy practice.....ENJOY!!

Before discussing what hardware and software that I am familiar with, I think it will be beneficial to briefly define what they mean. A computer system comprises hardware and software. Hardware is the physical medium, for example:

• circuit boards
• processors
• keyboard

Software are computer programs, for example:

• operating system
• editor
• compilers
• a Fortran 90 program

University of Liverpool. (1997) What is hardware and software. Retrieved on the 25th of March from http://www.liv.ac.uk/HPC/HTMLF90Course/HTMLF90CourseSlidesnode3.html

Some of the hardware that I use are computers, and with that comes the keyboard and mouse. I often take pictures using a digital camera, and to upload these on the computer I use a USB cord to place these on the computers. The hardware that I use everyday is my cellphone and ipod. With ipod I also use a USB cord to plug into the computer for charging and putting songs on. The software that I use would be web which includes: facebook, moodle, emails, skype and many other website. When editing photos and viewing them I use a software called picture viewer. Itunes is used for putting music on my ipod and for buying sonds from the itunes stores.

Here are three examples of digital imaging that used to provide information and recording:

1. A photo is used to capture memories and provide information of the event that happened at that time.
2. Photos complied on a disk means that information can be stored on a hard copy instead of a computer.
3. Digital information is also in the form of scanned document images.

Here is a youtube clip on some examples of digital imaging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBVqBgz95Os

'A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature'.

Digital Imaging has changed hugely over the years and is now a very valuable piece of technology. With a digital camera now we can take a photo or movie, view whilst it's still on the camera, and then delete it. While old cameras are very expensive to run (paying for film and developing), they do allow for hard copies of memories that can be stored away and brought up to enjoy. Digital Imaging saves money as you can download photos and videos on the computer in order to make more on a memory chip. They are also not usually developed as they can be viewed on the computer. Even though this is cheaper, it's not the same as having printouts to view.

Some ethical issues that may arise from the distribution of image capturing are:

• Consent must be gained from people that feature in the photo when you place them on the internet. This is because the internet is a place of public viewing.
• Another issue could be that images posted on certain websites must be appropriate as quite often anyone is able to view them.

Ways that digital imaging is used in occupational therapy are taking images for clients that struggle in communication. On my placement we had a picture exchanging system which was used for the children to express themselves. There were pictures of different facial expressions and activities that they either pointed at or grabbed in order to show what they wanted to do or how they felt. Photos can also be taken of clients progress to place in reports or to give to families.

Our Movie

This the video that our group made with the theme of overcoming adversity. We wanted to do something that was a bit humerous and caught the audiences attention. Georgie was the main actress in this film and she portrayed the role of a girl who overcame adversity. We first see her happiliy skipping towards the coffee shop, once there she realizes that she has no money so is unable to buy her self a delcious hot drink. She then came up with the idea of raising money by busking. Once she had received some money, she went and bought her drink.

To help plan this short film we did a sequences of illustrations that we wanted georgie to act out. This helped us when we were filming as we knew what we wanted to capture in the film.

Information Technology and Ethical Issues

The focus on my first posting with be about Information Technology and the Ethical Issues behind it. I will then be looking at how this form of technology is prevalent in our society and then relating my own personal circumstances of using it. Following from this I will look into the definitions of Intellectual Property, Social Justice and Informed Consent and relating them to occupational therapy. I know you will have a good read as this is a super interesting topic!!

Information Technology (IT) refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies (Information Technology, 2005). IT has become a big part of our everyday lives and has a huge impact on many of our occupations. These include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, web development, technical support and many more.
Information Technology. (2005) The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary. Retrieved 16th March from http://www.techterms.com/definition/it

Information Technology is well used in our everyday lives. Whether it be at school or university studies, researching online, different cites for interaction like facebook, twitter and myspace and so many more things. Gone are the days where you actually need to go out somewhere to find something or even buy something. Everything you can think of is pretty much on the computer.
Here is a youtube clip about the significant of Information Technology in our everyday life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meX1h4oqV38

Personally I feel that I am reasonably comfortable with some aspects of using most IT devices. With the computer for example, I have used it for most of my later school years, and everyday whilst I am studying. The different reasons that I use it for are: checking online packages on moodle, researching, checking emails, skype, watching movies and most importantly...facebook! (I am sure there are many more as well). That is just the computer alone, I also use digital cameras, ipods, TV and my cellphone. Information Technology is something that I don't think I, or most people, would be able to live without!

Reflecting on my own fieldwork experience, Information Technology was used everyday in many occasions. I was in a pediatric mental health setting. I observed my supervisor write progress notes using a special program on her computer. This was done after every session we had for every client. Other reasons my supervisor used her computer was: to create handouts for client's parents, research information for different cases, write out reports and contact other health professionals associated with the clients through email. In the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, there was quite often someone giving a presentation using a data projector which was connected to their laptop. This was used to bring across a message for everyone to view.
Here is a PowerPoint presentation about online technology in occupational therapy:
http://www.slideshare.net/anitahamilton/online-technology-for-occupational-therapy-presentation-for-students
IT can be useful in our practice and in our daily lives as we are able to get hold of any information we need with just the click of the mouse. By understanding how to correctly use this tool can save practitioners and people a lot of time, therefore use their time in other ways that can be more beneficial.

There are ethical implications that arise from capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT or systems that we need to be made aware of. The privacy and confidentiality of a person can be violated. Any information that is placed on the internet is public, meaning it can be seen my everyone who wishes to view. Therefore it is important that we take that into consideration, especially with photos. Be sure that when posting a photo or a video you have consent from everyone in it as it can be seen by the world.

Definations:

• Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images and designs used in commerce (WIPO, n.d.) IP is divided up into two categories: Industrial property which includes inventions, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of sources; and Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems, and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs (WIPO, n.d.) The innovations and creative expressions of indigenous and local communities are also IP, yet because they are 'traditional' they may not be fully protected by existing IP systems (WIPO, n.d.)

WIPO. (n.d.). What is Intellectual Property. Retrieved on March 16th from http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/

• Social Justice is defined by business dictionary as fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion,etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice (Business Dictionary, 2011). In relation to occupational therapy, social justice is a concept that relates to the equality of the clients. This means the practitioner needs to balance the needs of the individual client, the financial survival of the service, and the laws regarding to the appropriate care. The clients have a right to receive the therapy they need, no more and no less. (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2010).

Business Directory. (2011). Social Justice. Retrieved on March 16th from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-justice.html
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2010). Social Justice and Meeting the Needs of Clients. Retrieved on March 16th from http://www.aota.org/Practitioners/Ethics/Advisory/Social-Justice.aspx

• Informed Concent is a legal procedure that makes sure that the patient or client is aware of all the risk and cost involved in a treatment. The elements of informed consent including letting the client know of the nature of the treatment, other alternative treatments, and the possible risks and benefits of the treatment (Informed Concent, n.d.) In relation to occupational therapy, a practitioner is ethically and morally obligated to obtain concent before commencing with any treatment (Occupational Therapy Now, 2001).

About.com Psychology. (n.d.) What is Informed Concent. Retrieved 16th March from http://psychology.about.com/od/iindex/g/def_informedcon.htm
Occupational Therapy Now. (2001). Informed Concent. Do you have it?. Retrieved 16th March from http://www.caot.ca/otnow/sept01-eng/sept01-consent.cfm

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