This posting is about the ethical issues of Information Technology (I.T.). It gives a definition of I.T., talks about the prevalence of technology in our society and how I.T. is used in Occupational Therapy practice.
The definition of Information Technology according to McArthur (1992) has two descriptions. The first one is equipment used to store and process information. The second one includes the business of using and developing the equipment (p.518). This to me means, things such as computers and communication devices as well as integrating these devices into other types of equipment, for example wheelchairs.
Information Technology has become much more prevalent in our society with the use of computers and cell phones. Almost every home has a computer and almost everyone in western middle class society has a cell phone. "Over the past 20 years, its prevalence has dramatically increased so that it is now a part of nearly every aspect of daily life"(Vinay, 2008).
I feel comfortable using my cell phone as it has simple instructions and I feel that this works for me. I am much more comfortable with my lap-top and the computers at polytech than I was last year. The I.T. people at polytech have been most helpful and I have gained a better knowledge by persevering and asking questions.
Things that might expand my use of I.T. would be to further my knowledge through education and to use I.T. more in my everyday life. I have used I.T. to engage in purposeful occupations whilst writing assignments and staying in contact with my friends and family.
I have seen I.T. used in Occupational Therapy Practice to look up medical records on line and to keep in touch with clients by cell phone. I have seen power wheelchairs operated by I.T. and I have seen other devises such as portable respiratory machines that use I.T. to monitor a person's breathing.
Issues that exist around adoption of I.T. systems and tools are funding and how efficient these tools might be. Health and safety may be an issue and where and when these tools are being used, such as using a cell phone whilst driving. The availability of I.T. for its use in certain areas, such as signal strength in certain regions can also be an issue. There can also be ethical issues based on the use of I.T..
The ethical implications that arise from capturing and sharing and transfer of information via I.T. are: When using I.T. such as a cell phone or computer you are unable to see the person and sometimes words are written that can be misinterpreted. Some things on the Internet could be misused. Other ethical issues are: Who uses I.T.? Gaining people's consent to put things on line. One of the issues that is of concern to Occupational Therapists is about the disabled.Their access to many top websites may be deprived because of their inability to operate or to access equipment.
Information Technology can become a powerful medium in Occupational Therapy Practice particularly when it is used in specialized areas including power wheelchairs and the programming of those chairs. I.T. can be used in the home to shop on line, communicate via Skype or email and for self-care such as banking. These are tools that can be used by Occupational Therapists to enhance rehabilitation or improve quality of life. I.T. can also be used by Occupational Therapists to communicate new knowledge and to preserve knowledge that they already have.
One of the ways that I.T. can become a potential tool of Practice is to provide clients who are in the rehabilitation process and clients who are unable to perform their activities of daily living with a a computer system that allows them to do these activities. I.T. can also be used for chat rooms, such as the on line site for depression. There are other uses for I.T. such as the programming of power wheelchairs. This allows the wheel chair to be operated by a persons head movements, which enables a person with no upper limb function to still operate their chair.
I.T. can save time for Occupational Therapistsin their work and it can help to increase the clients ability to perform occupations as well as empower and develope their abilities.
References:
McArthur, T. (1992). Oxford Companion to The English Language. New York, USA:
Oxford University Press.
Vinay, (2008). What is information technology Retrieved 24, February from http://answers .yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080718011025AAmppaP.
