I.T?
Believe it o not technology is slowly overtaking our lives, typewriters have been phased out and Microsoft word has become the rule. A really cool definition of Information Technology comes from a website called www.if4it.com describing it as "technology used for the study, understanding, planning, design, construction, testing, distribution, support and operations of software, computers and computer related systems that exist for the purpose of Data, Information and Knowledge processing." so pretty much everything to do with computers that involves information, data and learning. So why am I going on about IT? because until someone weird like me starts ranting about it you don't realise that most of your life has been consumed by IT. All of the work you do is usually recorded on a hard drive or database of some sort, I know that when I'm either flatting or at home there is one computer per person, I have an Ipod, and external hard drive and a 4gb memory stick to compliment my laptop which can communicate with both my camera and cell phone with a simple cable.
IT and me
Dad is always surprised at how easily the younger generation picks up new technologies, I think this is because we aren't afraid to pick something up and see what happens when we push the big red button, and if you cant solve it "google it". Hence why I'm not really daunted by any new programs or devices that are put in front of me, though if I was dealing with a new program and had no access to google for help I dare say I might be in a little trouble.
OT and IT
Ok that heading is mostly there because it looks cool, but as a second year Occupational Therapy (OT) student I am becoming more and more aware of how IT can be used therapeutically. On my first placement I was working mostly with children with Cerebral Palsy (Click the link if you aren't familiar with CP). Some of these children didn't have much delicate movement of their hands so many of them were using laptops with programs like WordQ that predicts the word as you type so that less keys have to be pushed.
Hopefully you can see at least a potential benefit of technologies like these for people with difficulty typing. Other interesting programs allow you to speak into a microphone and it types on the screen, very useful for a paraplegic friend of mine with minimal use of his hands. This is all very well to write about but its the practical use that is important. Programs like this could mean the difference between paid employment and being on the benefit, or independence and relying on a scribe.
Ethics and IT
All this technology is wonderful, you can read anything, write anything and go crazy. However the thing with the internet is that once it's out there you can't get it back. Once it is posted you can delete something but you have no way of knowing if anyone has copied it. Just as when you say something you cant retract it the same happens with txt, e-mail, or facebook. Intellectual property as defined by iponz.govt.nz "is an umbrella term used for human innovations and creativity that are capable of being protected under national law and international treaties. IP includes a diverse range of commercial assets from patents for new inventions through to copyright protected artworks" so it's all of the things that people make and the copyrights covering them. Wisegeek describe Social Justice as a desire for equal justice for everyone in society, not just in a court room of course the link goes into far more depth than how I've described it. Another key term is Informed Consent and I've gone to yet another Wisegeek page, informed consent is generally thought of in reference to medical procedures where it is important for people to be fully informed of everything that is going on.
Hope you've learnt a little. Enjoy
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