Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Definition of Information Technology

Information technology n. The production, storage and communication of information using computers and microelectronics.

Hanks, P. (ed). (1989) Collins Concise Dictionary. Glasgow: Bath Press.

Information technology in our society

Technology is highly prevalent in our society, so much that we (generation Y in particular ) almost take it for granted and as a given.
Computers - emailing, Skype, search engines, social networking, Trademe, shopping, online games, printers, scanners - the list goes on! and obviously, technology we use in society spreads over to telecommunications like telephones and cellphones - txt, email, pxt, shop, internet, video, even the weather.

IT and me

I feel perfectly compfortable using a computer (internet etc), other wise I wouldn't be able to do this =o And I'm also one of the millions who have a cell phone and 'txt' pr 'pxt' and am scaryingly dependent on it. I'm also comfortable with using normal phones, fax machines, mp3 players, digital cameras. And I'm sure there are more, but they have become so integrated into my everyday life that i can remember.

IT and OT

On my fieldwork, one of the key IT things that was used was a pager system. Nearly everybody at the hospital depended on it to get in contact with another person.

Ethical issues

There is a huge range of technology that we can use to send, share and recieve information, and too comes the vulnerabilties of the information you're sharing, most of which is very personal. Confidentiality and privacy issues arise. Someone captured in a photograph might not want anyone from anywhere seeing their photo and knowing a part of their identity. Someone may place their own ideas on the internet without awareness that their ideas are being plagerised.

Definition of...

Computer ethics
Computer ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct.
Retrieved May 30, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics

Intellectual property
In law, intellectual property (IP) is an umbrella term for various legal entitlements which attach to certain types of information, ideas, or other intangibles in their expressed form.The term intellectual property reflects the idea that this subject matter is the product of the mind or the intellect, and that IP rights may be protected at law in the same way as any other form of property.
Retrieved May 30, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property

Social justice
Social justice mostly refers to an ideal of society, where "justice" refers to economic status rather than to the administration of laws. 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.
Retreived May 30, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice

Informed consent
Informed consent is a legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon an appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of an action.
Retrieved May 30, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent

Why a great understanding of ITC and the ethical issues it encompasses will help us in our practice and daily lives.

It is important to realise that information shold only be sent or shared at the descretion of the person it involves. For example, in practice, if a OT has taken digital photos of a person or their house, the pictures should be treated with confidentiality right and the client should be informed of the photos and what will happen to them. IT is open to a wide range of people, and it is important to be aware of this and not to always take it lightly, especisally in OT practice.

Occuaptional Therapy