Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Information technology refers to the technology of the production, storage and communication of information using computers and microelectronics (Collins, 2004). Information Technology is anything related to computing technology such as, networking, hardware, software and the Internet. Many corporate companies now have IT departments that manage the networks, computers and other technical areas in a business. 

In this day and age, IT is a very important part of many people’s lives. Most people use IT every day to communicate with others and for various other tasks. Information Technology has made it easier to interact with people, for example, by using various sites and programs such as Facebook and Skype, a person can talk face to face with somebody who may live on the other side of the world. There are many games online, interactive games where people of any age group can interact in a safe environment, learn about each other’s culture as well as forming a good friendship.

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As a child I grew up in a household where IT was used a lot this has allowed me to become very confident using Information Technology. From the age of 3 I was using a computer for games, software for learning and many other things. I taught myself to use many computer programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher and many other software including Photoshop and Moviemaker.  As a teenager, I rely on my cell phone for keeping in contact with my friends and family, I rely on my computer for emails, social networking, music, school work, entertainment and keeping contact with my friends who live overseas. At high school I took classes that relied on the use of IT and because of this I feel very comfortable navigating my way through different programs.

On my first placement, a rest home in Auckland, IT was used in various ways. The staff used computers to type reports, store information, communicate with external providers, order supplies and to keep in contact with the residents families. Information regarding a particular diagnosis could be easily accessed through the Internet. Digital cameras were often used to take pictures of the residents and activities that they enjoyed to partake in. These pictures would then be placed into an album for the residents and their families to look through.

It is important for Occupational Therapists to keep up to date with technology as it is always changing and is a great way to keep in contact and help clients. Occupational Therapists may find that as technology is changing, so are the clients and many clients may find meaningful occupation through technology. Having a good knowledge of IT will help Occupational Therapists engage with clients that have an interest in IT.

Ethics:

There can be many ethical implications from using Information Technology, implications can arise from the capturing, sharing and transferring of information through devices such as computers and phones onto the Internet. A major ethical issue surrounding IT is privacy. It is important to always consider the person’s privacy when posting on social networking sites and blogs for example. It is always a good idea to ensure you have received informed consent before sharing any information regarding others. The privacy of yourself or others can be easy violated by posting information onto sites that can be freely accessed by the public.

Reference:

Collins. (2004). The Collins English Dictionary. Glasgow: HarperCollins.