Tutorial One: Information technology and ethics

Here goes the first blog attempt!

As a requirement for the Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course, we are looking at information technology and its place in today’s society. Information technology is the production, storage and communication of information using computers and micro electrics. Over the past 20 years it has become increasingly commonplace in our society, affecting almost everything we do. Computers and electronic equipment are seen in the majority of households and business in New Zealand and most people have at least a basic knowledge of how to use them. Information is moved between people faster than ever, with the aid of technology.

Some IT devices or systems that are fairly commonplace in everyday life to produce and communicate information are: telephones, mobile phones, satellites, MP3 players, DVD players/ recorders, books, computer programmes (word, PowerPoint etc), internet applications (e-mail, social network sites, search engines etc).IT is used frequently within occupational therapy practice, for both practitioners and clients. From computers and internet which both provide information (Websites, e-mails) as well as a way of storing and sharing it; through to assistive technology to aid clients to complete meaningful occupations for them, the role of IT is growing within the profession.

Many ethical issues arise from the use of technology, especially as it rapidly grows and more information is available for everyone to see. Some useful terms to know are:

Ethics: these are moral principles that guide the way we act and behave and therefore computer ethics are principles that guide the use of computers. (Retrieved from http://www.techterms.com/definition/computerethics).

Privacy: The idea of privacy can be seen as the restriction of access to materials, however the definition is rapidly changing in terms of information technology as the boundaries become blurred between public and private information. (Bynum & Rogerson, 2004)

Intellectual property: or who owns what on the internet. Those who create or own information can make a lot of money from copyrights, however as the information can so easily be changed on the internet, policing this becomes difficult. (Bynum & Rogerson, 2004).

Informed consent: This is when a person has given consent for something when they have a clear understanding of what it is and the implications of that action. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent). This can be a huge issue with technology, especially with the growth of digital images and the ability to edit items.

Social Justice: The access to information for everyone can also mean that those who are unable to access technology may miss out on advantages that are available to those who can. This means that society must develop practices and adaptive technologies in order to allow access to those such as the elderly, people with disabilities and those on limited incomes. (Bynum & Rogerson, 2004).