Tut One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

This posting is about information technology. It focuses on how it is viewed society and also as a tool in occupational therapy practice. It also covers some ethical issues which should be considered when using information technology. A definition from is the production, storage, and communication of information using computer and microelectronics (Collins Concise Dictionary, 1989) Hanks, P. (ed). (1989) Collins Concise Dictionary. Glasgow: Bath Press

 A definition of IT is from TeachTerms.com, 2012 is that IT ‘stands for "Information Technology," and is pronounced "I.T." It refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies’. IT is always advancing our world. Today new technology is been developed and products at such a high rate that it is almost impossible to keep up with. Technology was has been very useful in society as in has increased the work rate, has made the worlds economy to become a single independent system. IT has provided a cheap, quick and efficient way to commute with everyone. This is IT has provided texting, emailing or chatting to each other through social medias such as Facebook. IT has developed to have face to face conversations to anyone anywhere in the world. Face to face communication can be done for social reasons as well as for work reasons. Video conferencing is a cheaper than travelling to the place where the other person may be. This would save and time for the company. Ultimately this gives a rise to profits which means better pay and less stressful working conditions Occupational therapist have the ability from their core skills or problem solving and lateral thinking the apply technology as a treatment tool or as an enabling agent. An occupational therapist has the opportunities to select and structure technologies to meet the client’s therapeutic needs. This is possible because of the successful development and use of mainstream technology. Cook and Hussey (2002) stated the technology ‘does not necessarily rely on the inherent qualities of the technology chosen. Furthermore, many devices have functions that remain unused but could be empowering for a particular client, and thus therapists are encourage to use these (Emiliani, 2006).

Some of issues that exist around OT’s adoption of IT systems and tools are that occupational therapists need to have clinical reasoning and judgement to assess the possible risks associated with each technology. The internet has dangers about how public it is. The OT needs to be aware of this, especially when dealing with vulnerable clients. According to Griffiths et al, 2003 ‘negative effects, such as aggression and addiction have been associated with computer gaming’. There if this was to happen technology should be used in moderation. On my placement, computers were used to order equipment from enable through e-mails or search through patients files to find there past medical history Phones were used to ring clients to book appointments with them or find out information that we needed to know. Pages where used to make referrals and find other staff members. I can envisage the use of IT becoming a potential tool of practice by been the only way that practice is given to the client/patient. I think this because technology is developing at a vast rate and the world is becoming so dependent of technology that therapist may not have the skills to do it manually because they have just relied on the technology to do the work for them. This can be seen as negative and positive. It is a positive because it would mean the therapist would see clients more quickly which may mean they are dis-charged sooner. However a negative could be that the report between the therapist and client is lessened.

Having a good report between the therapist and client has always been seen as key and important aspect however technology would take this way. This might make the client feel uncomfortable and miss treated. I believe to have an understanding and the knowhow to use information technology is to have known how to balance it between more traditional methods and IT methods. I am a believer that people shouldn’t become dependent on IT for their only source of entertainment. I think people especially children should play outside when it nice weather appose to playing on the latest form of IT. In terms of IT in OT practice I think that we should use it but don’t become dependent on it. I think that a therapist should have an understanding of how to do practice mannerly. I think this is important because it keeps some report between the therapist and client. The therapist should have an understanding of what they are doing and not an understanding on how to use the excitement. IT has made commutation in OT practice more efficient. I feel as IT develops in the form of commutation that we should use it to its full potential. Commutation is very important to making things so smoothly. Another negative of development of IT, is training the therapists to be able to use the equipment. This would have a negative effect on profits and time. If a place was to get new equipment often those these two factors would be affected even more.


Some of the ethical implications that might arise would be that you would have to get informed consent from people that you are taking photos of the ensure that they don’t mind. Also another one is that anyone can change or access the information that we put on the internet.