Tutorial 8 - Assistive technology

Provide a definition of Assistive technology.

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.

Retrieved on June, 12, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistive_technology

Describe one piece of equipment introduced in the assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost, and function.

The Wobble Switch is intended for use by any body extremity that can press against the wand.
The 10cm (4") wand can be activated with a swiping motion in any direction, registering the action by the bending of the spring-loaded wand.
This switch is especially useful for those with poor motor control.

The cost is NZ$ 176 + NZ$22 GST.

How does your chosen piece of equipment increased functional capacity for the user? Provide examples here from the tutorial.

An example Dave gave was that a child that was quite spastic could notbring up enough energy to hit a button to trigger a switch. The child just had to swipe the wobble switch which enabled him to participate in activities.

here is the funny cat!

Tutorial 7 - Posting You Tube Videos and Flickr Badges to Blogs: Explaining the process

Explain step by step the process required to embed YouTube videos into your Blog. Consider using screen captures to provide a visual representation of these steps.

Go onto www.youtube.com.

Find a video you like...


















Copy the embed...













Go onto your blog, copy onto posting, publish post, that's it!




Explain the step by step process required to embed a Flickr Badge into your blog. Consider using the screen captures to provide a visual representation of these steps.


Go onto Flickr.com and sign in...















Go to upload photos, choose photos, upload a photo, go to "tools" at the very bottom of the page















Choose either html badge or Flash badge (I like Flash badge better because it is animated.
Go onto next: choose content, then next colours, choose all your colours and go next.
Right click onto code, copy.
Then go onto your blog, layout, add page element, html/java script, copy into content.
















Add a title if you like, and save changes. That's it!

Tutorial 4 & 5 - Video Production Session

Provide a brief summary of the services offered by You Tube. Information can be drawn from the week five tutorial handout.

Youtube is a website where users can upload, view and share videos. Giving us all an opportunity to unleash our creative genius and empowering people to become "broadcasters of tomorrow".
Being registered on You Tube means that you can upload, watch and share all videos, whereas being unregistered limits users to only watching videos and this may be restricted depending on content. Youtube was purchased by google in 2006 and is a nonprofit website


Provide a brief account (1-2 paragraphs) on how the use of planning (storyboarding) and scripting aided your group's shortfilm.

Firstly we were discussing what the film would be about. When we had decided on the topic, we were brainstorming on possible shots and drew them into the storyboard.
The storyboard was helpful because we knew what we were looking for and how the shortfilm would evolve. It was good getting ideas first and thinking about what shots we would take.
In the end, the film was getting a little different from the storyboard, because some ideas were too complicated for both our skills and the little camera.

Tutorial 3 - Blog Creation Task

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.

Blogger is a side where you can create your own blog and have something like an "online diary". You can share your thoughts and ideas and post photos, videos and create links to your favourite websites. There are blogs with different topics out there on which you can read/add/learn things about topics you like.

Tutorial 2 - Digital Camera

"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?

I just loved going to the photo shop to pick up my pictures. Sometimes, were are some on the film that I had forgotten and it was always a nice surprise to see pictures and remember what happened at that time. Now, the thrill is gone. Instantaneously you can see what the picture looks like and you can take nearly unlimited amounts of pictures. Which can be a good thing, but do you ever look at all of them? I surely don't And if I do, and want to show them to my friends, they must be quite tolerant to see all of them, because often there are at least 10 of the same thing from different angles...


List some of the ways that digital images can be stored, transferred, and manipulated using other communications technology.

CD, memory stick, floppy disc, photo shop, picture it, paint, microsoft photo manager


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.

Privacy and anonymity can be hurt. To publish a picture of someone or someone's belongings, it is important to get informed consent first. By editing pictures, wrong impressions of people can be given, which may result in legal issues.


Briefly disuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are, being used in occupational therapy practice.

Digital pictures can be taken of people's houses or rooms that are needed to be modified. Digital pictures are useful here as they can be emailed to the funder. The OT can also draw into the photos to pinpoint the problem.
Digital pictures can also be used to analyse a person's posture.


Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Flickr.com

Flickr.com has the goal to enable people to share videos and photos with others and organise them. Flickr.com also offers making calenders, postcards, etc...


Name one other photo storage website which offers a service similar to Flickr.com

ringo.com


Explain what the difference is between a digital and an optical zoom.

Digital zoom just cuts out a piece of the picture and blows it up. This results in poorer quiality as the pixel count gets significantly reduced.
Optical zoom is the zoom of a film camera (an old fashioned one). The lens itself changes its length which is why objects appear magnified.


Explain what is meant by the term mega pixel.

One MP or megapixel is the pixel count of one million pixel.

Tutorial 1 - Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Provide a definition of Information Technology?Information Communication Technology (APA reference required)

"Information Technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information."

(Retrieved on May, 28 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology)

Consider the definition on IT you have provided. How is this form of technology prevalent in our society? How common place has it become?

IT seems to be involved in every person's life these days. There is basically nobody who does not use some form of IT. Whether it is a normal phone or the new "I-phone" - we rely on IT as our communication system and we expect everyone to be availabe at anytime. IT is nowadays seen as a basic.

IT systems are required for our society to function and co-ordinate services, events, and it seems even life. IT is everywhere: At schools, in hospitals, in prisons, in kindergartens, at home...

Not only the hardware but also the software is relevant for us. IT is a big part of learning and business institutions .

What IT devices or systems do you feel comfortable and compentent using?

The phone! And I can turn a computer on and off. And now I can even create a blog without too much of a worry.I believe when you try to get into it, nothing is too hard. After all, everything has been developed by other people and there is always somebody that you can ask when you get stuck.

Thinking about your fieldwork experiences consider how IT is being used in occupational therapy practice.

• Computers as resource and communication system. A computer system was also used to write down client's notes. These were accessible for every member of the team. Computers were also used to write reports and fill in electronic forms.
• Cameras were used to take pictures of houses/areas that needed to be modified. Occasionally, for wheelchair adaptations, client's sitting postures were also photographed.
• Telephones are used for making appointments/cancelling appointments with clients/other staff or for teleconferences.
• Videocameras can be used to film events/assessments to draw on/review them later.

What ethical implications arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet)?

When capturing someone/information, informed consent should always be given, as there is always a chance, that the information can be seen my others. Communication can never be regarded as entirely safe. When sending a picture from one phone to another, there is always the chance, that others might intercept, intentionally or not.

Provide a definition of Computer Ethics (APA required)

"Computer ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct."

Retrieved on May, 28 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_ethics.

Provide a defintion of Intellectual Property (APA reference required)

"Intellectual property (IP) is a legal field that refers to creations of the mind such as musical, literary, and artistic works; inventions; and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and related rights."

Retrieved on May, 28 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property.

Provide a defintion of Social Justice (APA reference required).

"Social justice refers to the concept of a society in which justice is achieved in every aspect of society, rather than merely the administration of law. The term can be amorphous and refer to sometimes self-contradictory values of justice."

Retrieved on May, 28 2008, 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 on May, 28 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent.

In your own words briefly summarise why (or why not) a greater understanding of ITC and the ethical issues it encompasses will help us in our practice and daily lives.

To be able to practice safely and competently, we should be familiar with the legal rights of our patients/clients. To be able to provide the best possible intervention, we should be "up to date" with the very rich and popular resources of IT.