Tutorial eight

Provide a definition of Assistive technology:

Assistive technology refers to a broad range of devices, services, strategies and practices that are conceived and applied to ameliorate the problems faced by people with disabilities.

Cook, A.M., & Hussey, S.M. (2000). Assistive technologies: principles and practice. St Louis: Mosby.


Describe one piece of equipment introduced to he assistive technology tutorial. Provide information on size, cost and functions.

Blink switch. This is attached to a pair of glasses, when the wearer of these glasses blinks, this action activates the device to turn another object on or off.
This is a compact device which fits to a pair of normal sized glasses and has a small control box which is used to increase and decrease sensitivity of the blink action according to the user.
The cost of this item is $1,000.00

How does your chosen piece of equipment increased functional capacity for the user?

This assistive device is a significant tool which enables a person to have some control over the environment in which they are in. It enables people who are non-verbal and who have extreme limitations in movement to make their own choices and can improve communication significantly for the client.

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

Task Three

Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Blogger. In addition to this name one other Blog host.
A place to write or attach pictures/videos of anything you wish to share with others.
These can be updated, changed or deleted as you please.
You can also design and decorate your blog as you wish.
Another blog site is 'Blogster'.

Tutorial Task Four and Five

Task Four (Blog Posting): Provide a brief summary of the services offered by U Tube. Information can be drawn from the week five tutorial hand out.

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. YouTube was created in mid-February 2005 by three former PayPal employees. The San Bruno-based service uses Adobe Flash technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos. Unregistered users can watch most videos on the site, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. Some videos are available only to users of age 18 or older (e.g. videos containing potentially offensive content). The uploading of videos containing pornography, nudity, defamation, harassment, commercial advertisements and material encouraging criminal conduct is prohibited. Related videos, determined by title and tags, appear onscreen to the right of a given video.
Retrieved May 20, 2008, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube

Task Five (Blog Posting): Provide a brief account (1-2 paragraphs) on how the use of planning (story boarding and scripting aided your groups short film).

The story board was a useful visual aid of all the photos/video shots that we wanted to use in the film. It was a good way to get our ideas for the film in order. The theme was, what did being a student in Dunedin mean to us and how could we show it in a 30 second video clip we used the story board as a reference to keep us on track and make sure we were not taking footage that we did not need.

We did not have very long to come up with the basic idea and then design our story board, get organized and take the photos/video, and return to the classroom to edit the shots into the 30 second video clip. Our video clip is made up of scenery around the Otago Polytechnic campus, the things that we see everyday. While we were editing the video clip we decided to call it O.T. World.

OT World

Short film

Tutorial Six

Provide the web address and the name of the community you are investigating:
www.thelowdown.co.nz


What is the brief or the focus of this community?
It provides information on depression.
It involves people sharing information on their personal experiences of depression.
It provides information on other available 'help' sites/agencies.


What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?
A self test on depression
Self help strategies
Chat
Free text and phone services to 'The Low Down Team'.
Details on other organisations - Helpline
Kidsline Buddies
Whats Up
Youthline
One Stop Shop
Counsellors
Information on other health professionals : Doctor, psychologist and psychiatrists.
It also provides a multimedia option and chat rooms.
People can contribute by going online and chatting to one of the team.



Consider material presented during the lecture and make a comment on why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?
Equality, the acknowledgement that they are not alone. Having someone to listen to them who understands what they are going to and may be able to give some helpul, realistic suggestions.
This is a place where contributers can just write how they feel and this can be a great way to 'unload'.


Cut and paste an example of the type of topics being discussed (you may have to provide a context to your experpt).
I am unable to cut and paste from this site, however, participants are talking about relationship difficulties, feeling inadequate, feeling sad, tearfullness, lack of understanding from others and difficulty with everyday activities.


Considering material presented during the course and make comment on the potential ethical issues that may arise in this community e.g. lack of identity and accountability.
People are able to say exactly what and how they feel and may make judgements/comments on others who are involved in the chat.
Participants may name people either correctly or incorrectly.
Participants may add information that is totally fictitious.


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment on the benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community e.g. communities reliant on geographic proximity.
It doesn't matter where in the world participants are, they can join in the 'Low Down Community' whenever they wish. Unlike an actual geographic community where they are living, they do not have to be so conscious of what they say, who to, and when an appropriate time may be.
Also, it is likely to be much easier to cease contact with someone in the on line community than what it may be in a face to face communication with someone in the geographic community.


Consider material presented during the lecture and make comment what this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can.
The online community can not provide access to everyone - eg those who do not have a computer or the skills to use one.
It is not necessarily a valid source of information and can abused by people.
It also lacks the personal interaction as it any information can be viewed by thousands of people - the writer does not have control over who reads their information and what others do with it.

Tutorial Two

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? Although new technology can make tasks quicker and more efficient, it does not replace the satisfaction felt with taking a roll of film into the chemist, going back a few days later and being able to look at your photos for the first time. You are able to see the photos just how you took them...this way all photos are developed and seen, where as with a digital camera, photos are often deleted for 'not being good enough' or are never printed off for future viewing. In addition, digital cameras are fantastic in the way we can quickly see what we have photographed and nearly as quickly we are able to print the photos out if we choose for use - ideal when making visual planners or communication aids for people.

List some of the ways that digital images can be stored transferred and manipulated using other communications technology. They can be stored on cds, on the computer, as a screen saver, they can also be emailed to other people, added to blogs. Digital photos can be edited, by cropping, removing red eye, enhancing colour, all via the computer.

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. Once photos are published on the web, they are able to be accessed and used by anyone for anything.

Briefly discuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are, being used in occupational therapy practice. To photograph equipment or environments which can then be emailed to other professionals if advice is required or parts are required from elsewhere. Photos may be taken to use as visual aides for clients.

Provide a brief summary of the services offered by Flickr.com Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Let us show you why! Flickr is a way to get your photos to the people who matter to you. And since basic accounts are free, there's no reason not to explore further...

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

Explain what the difference is between a digital and an optical zoom Digital zooms in on one aspect of the picture but this decreases focus, where as optical zooms in while keeping focus.

Explain what is meant by the term mega pixel A mega pixel is the term used for the colour fragments within a camera.

Tutorial One

Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Provide a definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology (APA reference required) The technology used in information science. Readers Digest (1988). Universal Dictionary. Pg 790

Consider the definition of IT you have provided. How is this form of technology prevalent in our society? How common place has it become? It is used and relied upon continuously by most people - it has become so common place that computers and cellphones etc are in most homes.

What IT devices or system do you feel comfortable and competent using? None

Thinking about your own fieldwork experiences consider how IT is being used in Occupational Therapy practice? Data bases, research and communication. Networking with other agencies, informing co-workers about what is going on in a particular area, receiving advice/information from co-workers or other agencies. Developing resources.

What ethical implications arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information via IT devices (e.g. mobile phones) or systems (e.g. internet) Confidentiality is not guaranteed. Information can be altered by others. Information may be passed on to others it was originally intended for. Information may fail to 'send' or be received.

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. The term "computer ethics" was first coined by Walter Maner[1] in the mid-1970s, but only since the 1990s has it started being integrated into professional development programs in academic settings. The conceptual foundations of computer ethics are investigated by information ethics, a branch of philosophical ethics established by Luciano Floridi. Computer ethics is a very important topic in computer applications. The importance of computer ethics increased through the 1990s. With the growth of the Internet, privacy issues as well as concerns regarding computing technologies such as spyware and web browser cookies have called into question ethical behavior in technology. Retrieved May 28, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication

Provide a definition 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. Under intellectual property law, the holder of one of these abstract "properties" has certain exclusive rights to the creative work, commercial symbol, or invention by which it is covered. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property

Provide a definition 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. It is generally thought of as a world which affords individuals and groups fair treatment and an impartial share of the benefits of society. (Different proponents of social justice have developed different interpretations of what constitutes fair treatment and an impartial share.) It can also refer to the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society. Retreived 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. The individual needs to be in possession of relevant facts and also of his or her reasoning faculties, such as not being mentally retarded or mentally ill and without an impairment of judgment at the time of consenting. Such impairments might include illness, intoxication, insufficient sleep, and other health problems. Some acts cannot legally take place because of a lack of informed consent. In cases where an individual is considered unable to give informed consent, another person is generally authorized to give consent on their behalf. Examples of this include the parents or legal guardians of a child and caregivers for the mentally ill. In cases where an individual is provided limited facts, serious ethical issues may arise. Examples of this in a clinical trial in medical research are anticipated and prevented by an ethics committee or Institutional Review Board. Retreived May 28, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice

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. It is used and relied upon continuously by most people - it has become so common place that computers and cell phones etc are in most homes. We will be aware of the risks involved in anything that is sent through ITC and therefore be careful as to what details we wish to send in this format or to publish.

Its the start

My first ever Blog....technology and I don't really get on so this will be interesting.
This is the first session on creating a Blog for our second year Occupational Therapy class.