Digital Imagery

Digital Imagery
Captured on film

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Tutorial Eight: Assistive Technology

We had a lecture and tutorial about Assistive Technologies - I cannot believe just how many types of equipment and the amount of technology is out there. This is a highly specialised area I have a strong interest in this feild and hope to one day be out there working with people and assistive equipment that can work with the individual needs of people requiring equipment to enable them to participate and independantly do activities of their choice - quite amazing!

I will begin by defining the term, looking at one piece of equipment that we experienced in the tutorial and look into other pieces of equipment that can assit people.  
Definition:
Assistive equipment can be defined as "any item, piece of equipment or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized that is used to increase or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities" (Cook & Hussey, 2000, pp.5).

It can also be defined as, assistive technology is a piece of technology or equipment (usually required to be an electronic device) that will assist a person to perform their daily occupations, eg communication or working at the computer. A device will be meet the needs of a specific individual and can be very costly. 

"Assistive Technology devices can help improve physical or mental functioning, overcome a disorder or impairment, help prevent the worsening of a condition, strengthen a physical or mental weakness, help improve a person's capacity to learn, or even replace a missing limb".
http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html

There are many websites that provide information on assistive technology. Here are a few that I came across.
http://assistive.technology.proteor.com/
http://eatwebsig.ning.com/
http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html
http://www.starmobility.co.nz/
Not only is specially designed equipment available to assist an individual with a disabliity but ordinary everyday items can be used as assistive equipment. 

Take a look at this blogger site http://suffolkwiiproject.blogspot.com/ of teachers using the Wii console and games in the classroom. 
This project is led by Su Harris (Suffolk L&T Adviser for Primary English) and involves five KS2 teachers from Suffolk working together to develop the use of the Nintendo Wii in both literacy and across the curriculum. Just goes to show how adaptable resources can be used in different settings!

I have chosen to use the Wii Console & Resort Games in my assignment for PO1 and it has been interesting to research about how devices like the Wii can assist individuals with their recovery from illness/conditions.Fasinating!

Tutorial: 
Trev Wilson from Star Mobility and Disability Centre came and introduced us to the great big world of assistive technology. He explained how equipment & devices can support areas of impairment for an individual.
About 2 years ago I worked alongside Trev and an Occuaptional Therapist in Thames to support an individual with communication difficulties. The various types of aids were trialled by the individual until one in particular was found to be the best, this is known as The Tango. Together the individual, other staff and I took photos of places most frequently accessed and uploaded then into the tango then would add voice messages to match the photos. The Tango supported the individual to communicate his needs and interests and as far as I know is utilising it well.

During the tutorial I looked specially at the talking photoalbum. We were givent he opportunity to use an A5 size one. They are also available in A3 and A4 sizes. This photoalbum had many leaves where to dispaly photos or pictures (like we did to put together a reciepe to amke a banana smoothie). Each page has a button to activate a function of recording a 10 second message, this can be an instruction or a message. For all up to date prices see Star Mobility Website http://www.starmobility.co.nz/

This assistive device will provide an individual with both visual and auditory prompts, great for those with sequencing difficulties. It allows the user to move on to the next step in their time which would be very assistive with an individual with cognitive difficulties like memory loss. This increases an individual to increase their occupation susing such a device. It could also be used by family members wanting to provide stimulation about other family members or places and could therefore increase communications and interests.

Not only does this photoalbum provide all of the above, it was fun and easy to use!


Take a look at the above or below suggested web sites, I cant promise you will be as interested as i am but it will really surprise you as to how many types of assistive equipment is out there to be used to allow individual to experience life!

Well folks, thats all. This was the last entry required for PO1, it has been a mixed experience. Very frustrating at times, blogs moving all around the site for no apparent reason (though I do know the only one that can be blamed is the editior, me hehe) but on the whole I have learnt so much more than I had anticipated. Thank-you for taking the time to look through my blog site I hope you have been inspired like I have :)

References:

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

http://suffolkwiiproject.blogspot.com/ 

http://assistive.technology.proteor.com/
http://eatwebsig.ning.com/ 
http://www.rehabtool.com/at.html
http://www.starmobility.co.nz/

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Tutorial Seven: Linking to blogs of interest and exchanging comments

Hi again, this week Im looking at linking blogs of interest and exchanging comments. Heres an example of exchanging comments using the snipping tool on windows.
And I have linked 5 chosen blogs with the help from a fellow O.T student, thank-you Katy!
This will enable easier access to see others progress of this Blogger journey. I have also chosen to link NZOAT and The Traumatic Brain Injury Website. Both of these sites have a vast amount of information and knowledge that will be of interest to many of you that are looking here :) 

Friday 25 March 2011

Tutorial Six: The internet and online communities

I have chosen to look at on line communities that support those who are affected by Brain Injury and those who support people with Brain Injury.

Provide the web addresses and a hyperlink for the three online communities I have chosen:
Provide a brief description of each community:
What services are provided on each site?
How and what can people contribute?


Brain Injury Network:

http://www.braininjurynetwork.org/publicpolicy/posttbisyndromediag.html






Our Mission: We are promoting collective advocacy and
self-advocacy for people with acquired brain injury and we are continuously formulating our agenda and disseminating our survivor (consumer) driven
public policy platform.

This online community is raising the awareness of TBI as well as supporting each other with shared stories of their experiences.
This site has many sections that people can access, it is very educational.

Facebook Online Communities: 
Facebook is a social networking website intended to connect friends, family, and business associates. It is the largest of the networking sites, with the runner up being MySpace. It began as a college networking website and has expanded to include anyone and everyone.
Facebook was founded by 2004 by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg and originally called thefacebook. It was quickly successful on campus and expanded beyond Harvard into other Ivy League schools. With the phenomenon growing in popularity, Zuckerberg enlisted two other students, Duston Moskovitz and Chris Hughes, to assist. Within months, thefacebook became a nationwide college networking website.

 
So my New Years Resolution this year is to spread Awareness of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
To put it bluntly, there is no cure for brain injury.
All I want is for people to become aware and also to take measures to protect their brains, because even though it may be an "invisible injury", it is a very powerful one.  

This online community is not very interactive as it is facebook which is a social site but it is  a great place where peoples opinions and personal accounts. can be shared. The information is reciprocal and when reading through what people have spoken about it is clear this online community supports these poeple by sharing their experiences and thoughts.
Help to raise Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness

References:  


http://www.braininjurynetwork.org/publicpolicy/posttbisyndromediag.html
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/DustinsTbiAwareness

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-facebook.htm

Sunday 20 March 2011

Week Four & Five: Video Production Sessions.

Post your film to your blog
We, as a small group chose the letter L to depict in our short film. Making use of the surrounding environment, resources and I.T already available. The story board proved to be very valuable as we adjusted, cropted and arranged many times prior to being satisfied. The with Using Movie Maker we created a short but fun visual presentation of the letter L accompained by music I just happened to still have on my USB stick from a class last semester. 

This should have been posted with our video, opps, still trying to navigate my way around this place!

Provide a brief summary of the services offered by YouTube
Music, all types, professional and ameutur
Television on Movie clips
Many ameutur home videos
Educational clips
Games etc etc What cant you find on YouTube.

Introduce a chosen topic of interest drawn from your feild work experiences, an OT practice area or a personal occupation.
Find five different source of online video content that help explain, demonstrate, or provide personal experiences of your topic.

Adaptive Equipment:

My first feild work placement was based at and Acute Surgical and Medical ward in a hospital. Here the team of Occupational Therapist were working with patients to assit them to return home and often issued the clients adaptive equipment to support them with their ADL's at home. Adaptive equipment are devices that are used to assist with completing activities of daily living.

                              Understanding the Use of Adaptive Devices for ADLs

ACCESSIBLE COOKING: bottle opener, utensils, canisters



Online technology for Occupational Therapy: Presentation for students

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Tutorial Two: Digital Imaging

List some of the ways that digital images are stored, transfered and manipulated using I.T:
Digital images can be stored in the cameras inbuilt memory or on a SD Card (Secure Digital Card), transfered to a computer to a shared position (ie pictures, documents) via a USB cord (universal serial bus). These images can be manipulated not only on the same camera but also on the computer.

"A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature"
For me this statement says how the latest and greatest may have add zoom, mega pixels, colour, style, detail capabilities but at the end of the day the function remains the same! 
What do I consider to be some of the pluses and minuses digital camera technology holds in relation to more traditional film based camera's?
+ are digital cameras allows the user to delete, alter, print and crop immediately  
- are digital technology removes the original unique occupation of being able to develop the film yourself. 

Given the prevalence of image capturing and distribution using I.T, what ethical issues may arise with their use?

Those who's image has been captured may not of given their consent to have their picture taken. These images could be publicly displayed and cause a problem for whom ever concerned. 
Prior to taking a photo the other day of one of my study group buddies I asked for their consent. Often when the camera operator asks, then people do not object.

Briefly discuss some of the ways that digital images could, or are being used in O.T practice.
Digital cameras are useful for taking images for persons with hearing and/or speech  difficulties. The picture board system for those with learning difficulties is another example of where digital images are used to give choices to participate in tasks and as a communication tool.
Occupational Therapists take photographs of clients or their homes for pictorial references in reports such as applying for extensions on an existing home for someone with a disability. 

Take a look through some of the above Slide Show - interesting!

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Tutorial One: Information Technology and Ethical Issues

Introduction:
The focus of my first posting is about the Information Technology: to define and explain, the use of technology over history; the problems and benefits and to discuss its role in the common place and the domain of occupational therapy. The Ethical Issues of using I.T will be briefly discuss too.

Definition:

Information Technology according to Tech Terms.com The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary (2011) states " It refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies. Many companies now have IT departments for managing the computers, networks, and other technical areas of their businesses. IT jobs include computer programming, network administration, computer engineering, Web development, technical support, and many other related occupations. Since we live in the "information age," information technology has become a part of our everyday lives. That means the term "IT," already highly overused, is here to stay.
http://www.techterms.com/definition/it

My definition of I.T:
For me, Information Technology refers to anything related to computer technology, such as networking, hardware and software. Especially the Internet and its capabilities of communication, both visual and auditory. 


History
Technology has and always will develop, it is forever changing. When you think of just a decade or so ago it was not a common sight to see everyone with a mobile phone. Do you recall your first phone? I can and it could not do anything but make a call. My current phone can send & recieve txts, calls & emails, access the internet, take photos and possible has more functions that I havn't discovered. All forms of I.T have altered and there will always be something new!

In the May 1970 issue of Popular Science magazine Arthur C. Clarke was reported to have predicted that satellites would one day "bring the accumulated knowledge of the world to your fingertips" using a console that would combine the functionality of the Xerox, telephone, television and a small computer, allowing data transfer and video conferencing around the globe.


My experience with I.T ranges from emailing, typing up assignments, accessing the internet for the O.T papers, researching, uploading photos, social networking, using a camera on a mobile phone, purchasing items/tickets and helping my children to find information they need for school homework. I have experienced some infuriating moments when using many forms of I.T and this blogger site has been one of them too.



Problems and Benefits:
All types of Information Technology relies on a source of electricity or battery power. To access the internet there must be a service provider attached to the device and the user must know how to operate it, even if just in the simplist of ways. 
The benefits of I.T can mean the world of difference for many people. Communicating with others, online shopping, education, paying bills & banking etc etc. Occupational Therapy can assist a person using I.T if it suits the goal of the individual.

Common Place:
is described by Dictionary.com as
ordinary; undistinguished or uninteresting; without individuality: a commonplace person.
I feel that I.T has become a common place occupation. People of all ages access and utilise I.T for numerous reasons. I.T does not only occur within businesses, shops, banks etc but nowdays it is commonly used within the home.


Domain of O.T: 
The Occupational Therapists domain of concern is Occupation and I can see that I.T can be a very useful tool for Occupational Therapist to use. It can give the OT many different methods  to assist a client to reach their goals. There are a variety of social sites on the internet like Facebook and for a young client it is important that the OT knows how it could  be of benefit to them, just like an educational site or emailing could be too.The use of these sites and this ype of I.T could be a useful Therapuetic Tool giving a client an opportunity to engage in an occupation that has meaningful purpose to them.

Ethical Implications:
Is described by dictionary.com as
1. in accordance with principles of conduct that are considered correct, esp those of a given profession or group
2. of or relating to ethics
3. (of a medicinal agent) available legally only with a doctor's prescription or consent.
When using information technology ethical issues and intellectual property needs to be considered as well. 

Informed Consent:
Is described by dictionary.com as
a patient's consent to a Medical or surgical procedure or to participation in a clinical study after being properly advised of the relevant medical facts and the risks involved.
Ethical issues can arise  when people who use the Digital Technology do not ask for peoples consent or and/or use the images inappropraitely. 

Intellectual property:
is the property of someone mind or intellect. This can be someone’s good idea, invention, original design or trade mark. In other words this is the representation of someone’s proprietary knowledge.   http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/ip/index.shtml

Social justice: 
Is described by dictionary.com as 
the equal application of laws following the natural law that all individuals, regardless of differences in ethnicity, gender, possession, religion, race, etc., are to be treated in the same way and without discrimination.



References:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/ithttp://www.slideshare.net/anitahamilton/online-technology-for-occupational-therapy-presentation
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-justice.html  
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethical

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_wide_web