tutorial eight

Assistive Technology: is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. AT promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish, or had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to accomplish such tasks (Cook & Hussey 2001).

One piece of assistive technology that I was introduced to was the tech/talk 8^th. This is a communication device which allows you to program, record and playback 48-96 independent messages. You can change the messages and pictures to match corresponding message. It is the size of a regular computer keyboard and costs up to $4000. It can be wiped with a damp cloth to wash.

This tech/talk enables an individual to communicate only using hand function. This would enable the person who has no verbal or fine movement to ask a question or say what she/ he are feeling. An untrained person can listen to the individual and respond to them.

Tutorial Seven

Step by step process to embed You Tube videos onto my blog.

Step 1- Log onto You Tube and look up the video you would like to embed onto you blog.
Step 2- The video will have a URL that you now need to copy.
Step 3- Log onto your blog page
Step 4- Click on customize.
Step 5- Click on posting
Step 6- Paste URL in posting box
Step 7- Write a heading and description and save.

Step by step process to embed a Flikr Badge

Step 1- Log onto your flikr account
Step 2- click on tools at bottom of page
Step 3- follow step by step instructions until end where the URL comes up
Step 4- Copy the URL
Step 5- Open Blog account
Step 6- click on customize
Step 7- click on add elements
Step 8- Click on script
Step 9 - Paste URL in box provided
Step 10- Name badge e.g. my photos
Step 11- save

Tutorial Three

Task Four: Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Blogger (this will be your third posting. Information can be drawn from the attached hand out). In addition to this name one other Blog host.

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. You can also post photos on your blog and also You Tube videos.

Another Blog host is Facebook.

Tutorial One

Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Provide a definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology (APA reference required) Information technology. The production, storage and communication of information using computers and microelectronics. Hanks, P.(ed). (1989) Collins Concise Dictionary. Glasgow: Bath Press.

Consider the definition of IT you have provided. How is this form of technology prevalent in our society? How common place has it become? Information technology has become common place in society because of the convenience and it is simple to use. It is now common place to communicate with a person instantly no matter where they are. For example over phone, email, fax. Being able to use technology is now a requirement for society as it is used in most work places and in most homes.

What IT devices or system do you feel comfortable and competent using? I feel comfortable using computers, cell phones, fax, email, cameras, and video cameras.

Thinking about your own fieldwork experiences consider how IT is being used in Occupational Therapy practice? On my fieldwork placement we used computer to type patient notes on. It was a system called JADE. Email was also commonly used and phone.

What ethical implications arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet) Privacy issues when using technology such as cell phone and emails can be considered impersonal because it is not face to face. Also the ethical issues with camera are that people might not consent to their picture being taken and the picture could be exploited e.g. a famous actors picture being published on the internet without their consent.

Provide a definition of Computer Ethics (APA reference required) Computer ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct. Retrieved February 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics

Provide a definition of Intellectual Property (APA reference required) 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 holder of this legal entitlement is generally entitled to exercise various exclusive rights in relation to the subject matter of the IP. 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. However, the use of the term and the concepts it is said to embody are the subject of some controversy Retrieved February 14, 2007, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property

Provide a definition of Social Justice (APA reference required) 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 Februry 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice

Provide a definition of Informed Consent (APA reference required) 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 February 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent

In your own words briefly summarise why (or why not) a great understanding of ITC and the ethical issues it encompasses will help us in our practice and daily lives. A greater understanding of ITC and ethical issues will help us in our practice and daily lives. It will widen our knowledge and understanding of how to use ITC. It will also make us aware of the ethical issues involved in using ITC.

Tutorial Four and Five

Task four Brief summary of You Tube:

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Unregistered users can watch most videos on the site, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. YouTube is currently not profitable site.

Task Five The Use of Planning the Short Film

Using the storyboard to develop our film provided my group with organisation and also guidance. By planning our film before we starting filming it meant we weren't wondering around trying to think of ideas. We already had our plan that we followed. But also by only having only brief pictures it meant that it gave us options if the shot didn't work. The plan really helped to develop our short film and provided an opportunity for the whole group to give ideas as we all sat down in a group and discussed the plan before we started filming.

channel D Weather

30 second film for participation in occupation

Tutorial Six

http://www.housingot.co.uk/page2.htm

This blog is about sharing ideas about housing modifications online. People are able to post messages on the website and also answer other people concerns and ideas. It is a website created for not only occupational therapist but also builder, users, family member etc. It also explains what an Occupational therapist job is and what sort of things they can do to make life easier in the home. e.g. raise chairs.

The website provides links to similar websites about housing. It also provides links to journal articles on housing and new ideas for housing adaptations. This site is very interactive as anyone can post a comment on the website. This is a good way for public and health workers to contribute to the site.

The reason for people choosing to contribute to this community could be that it could compliment real life communities, it can provide large amounts of information, it can provide connections over great distances instantly, it gives the person the ability to connect with people with similar interests/needs/ concerns and also can foster an understanding and unity.

New free online bathing / showering database

The Disabled Living Foundation have, today, launched "Bathing Made Easy " - the first free, impartial online database where you can search for and compare bathing and shower equipment and adaptations. You can choose up to 4 items and compare them side by side. It includes cost, dimensions, diagrams and national suppliers.

I'm sure that this database will be of huge help to occupational therapists and to anyone wishing to find and compare different items.

As time goes by, the site will develop, including other categories of equipment and adaptations as well as bathing. Another of the unique features of the site seems to be the option of people reviewing items that they have used, as a guide for others looking.

The guide will be of benefit to people who may be choosing to use direct payments to buy their own equipment, rather than choosing to accept what the local authority may be offering. It will also be able to be used to complement the information available from your own occupational therapist. Why not use it to explore options and ask them questions about your ideas?

Potential ethical issues that may arise in this community could be that lack of identity of participants in the blog. For example the people who leave messages as access is open to public to leave messages. Also the accountability of the posting posted on the site. Rapid growth may result in unwanted or unperceived changes and it also has limited communication tools.

The benefits that an online community holds over a traditional community are that it can provide connections over great distances instantly, it gives the person the ability to connect with people with similar interests/needs/ concerns and also can foster an understanding and unity.

The negative features of an online community compared to a traditional community are the limited communication tools and delusional reliance of virtual communities. Also the unknown of who sustains the community.

Tutorial Two: Digital Camera use and applications

“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”. Briefly discuss this statement in relation to digital camera technology. What would you consider to be some of the pluses and minuses digital camera technology holds in relation to more traditional film based cameras? This statement in relation to digital camera technology has a lot of truth in it. Although digital cameras are seen as the way of the future they don’t have all of the aspects that the old film camera provides the user. Some of these aspects could include the element of surprise when the film is developed, the fun receiving photos of an event weeks after the event accrued.

List some of the ways that digital images can be stored transferred and manipulated using other communications technology. Digital photos can be stored on websites such as flickr, they can also be stored on computer programmes like i photo. They can be stored on cell phones, cds, flash drives etc.

Given the prevalence of image capturing devices, and thinking about the issues discussed in tutorial one, consider what sort of ethical issues may arise with their use. Ethical issues that need to be considered when taking photos could be in In OT practise- gaining permission from clients and family Being aware of peoples privacy and rights We have a responsibility to ourselves our clients and anyone we might take a photo of.

Briefly discuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are, being used in occupational therapy practice. Digital cameras are used to take photos of home visits to show other OT’s for there thoughts. Photos may be taken of clients for teaching purposes.

Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Flickr.com Flickr.com is a internet site were anybody who is registered can store photos online. Other people can access this photos, this is a good way to keep friends and family in touch with the latest photos. E.g grandchildren, wedding photos

Name one other photo storage website which offers a service similar to Flickr.com Other sites which are similar are bebo.com and you tube.

Explain what the difference is between a digital and an optical zoom Most cameras have both optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom works just like a zoom lens on a film camera. The lens changes focal length and magnification as it is zoomed. Image quality stays high throughout the zoom range. Digital zoom simply crops the image to a smaller size, then enlarges the cropped portion to fill the frame again. Digital zoom results in a significant loss of quality as is clear from the examples below. It's pretty much a last resort, and if you don't have it in camera, you can do a similar job using almost any image editing program.

Explain what is meant by the term mega pixel One of the main ways that manufacturers categorize their digital cameras is in terms of pixel count. What this is is the number of individual pixels that go into making each image. Today this number varies between 1 million (1 Megapixel) to around 14 million (14 Megapixels). A million pixels is abbreviated to MP, so a 1MP camera has 1 million pixels and a 3MP camera has 3 million pixels. Currently most popular consumer digital cameras have between 2MP and 5MP. A 3MP camera can make excellent 4"x6" prints and very good 5"x7" prints. If you intend to make lots of 8"x10" prints, then perhaps a 4MP or 5MP camera would be a better choice. Sometimes two numbers are given, total pixels and effective pixels. Total pixels count every pixel on the sensor surface. Usually the very edge pixels aren't used in the final image. Effective pixels are the number of pixels actually used in the image after the edge pixels have been dropped.