Tutorial 8: Assistive Technology

Definition of Assistive Technology?
"any item 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)


This is a YouTube clip that provides a excellent explanation of assistive technology:



During one of our lectures we had two guest speakers who spoke to us regarding assistive technology. I found this lecture very interesting which has made me aware that with advancing technology there are many options available to individuals with mental and physical disabilities to continue to engage in meaningful and purposeful occupations.

Speech Recognition Technology which is a computer software that enables individuals with disabilities to operate computers and navigate the internet simply by speaking into a headset microphone (without the use of a keyboard) which converts spoken words into typed text. This software has been of particular interest because I think the features that are available is very convenient and is a universal software not just limited to disable consumers.

I was kindly given consent and shown by a friend who has a C5-C6 spinal cord injury how this software works. He has a very active lifestyle and this software has enabled him to keep in touch with families/friends via internet use and simply compose documents with accuracy. I have received emails from him on several occasions and the content of his emails are professional without any spelling or grammatical errors.

The speech recognition software is sound sensitive and requires a high quality microphone headset to filter out background noise. The accuracy of the typed text (converted from spoken speech) depends on the sound input. A sound card is also required which is already built in the new computers that are currently available in the market. A powerful computer is also required that has a large memory storage with at least a  minimum 2 gigabyte RAM. I have been told that the new versions can be used straight out of the box however it is recommended to train the software after installation to recognize the speaking style of the consumer.

The cost of the speech recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking 11 Premium (sorry John, i informed you of the wrong version :] )  is $399.99 at Noel Leeming and Bond & Bond.

This YouTube clip gives a demonstration how this software works:




References:
Cook, A. M., & Hussey, A. M. (2000). Assistive Technologies: Principles and Practice. Sacramento: California, Mosby

Tutorial 7: Linking to blogs of interest and exchanging comments

The 5 blogs that I have chosen which relate to OT practice are as follows:

• Participation 2011 

http://moodle.op.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=440

• Moodle:

http://moodle.op.ac.nz

• NZAOT:

http://www.nzaot.com/

2 Fellow OT students:
Claire
http://clairepo1.blogspot.com/
Gemma
http://gemmapo1.blogspot.com/
This blog was interesting to put together because I am now able to make links to other websites from my profile page. This is so convenient because I can just click on the website link within my blog page inside of typing in the URL in the address tab.

Tutorial 6: The internet and online communities

My chosen topic of interest for this tutorial is on three popular social networking websites which are:

• Facebook - www.facebook.com
• Twitter - www.twitter.com
• My space - www.myspace.com

Provide a brief description of each community and services they provide?

Facebook



Facebook is a free access website privately owned and created on the 4 of February in 2004. This social networking website allow members to join online networks and interact with friends and families around the globe. Members are able to upload photos, add new friends, send messages, play games and update their personal profile with personal thoughts to which invited members are able to comment on.
Twitter:



Twitter is a useful business networking tool. Updates are available to everyone and anyone around the world.
Twitter is a instant message service that allows members to post a comment (limited characters up to 140) on their personal thoughts. These comments are referred to as a tweet. The name Twitter comes from the idea that these short comments are similar to the chirping of birds. People around the globe can choose to follow other members on Twitter for example celebrities.

MySpace



My space was created in 2004, initially designed to be a storage site for a group of employees that worked for another website company but later become a public social networking tool. Some of the first people to utilize MySpace was musicians who posted performance dates to inform their fans. They also streamed their music through their profile page which could be downloaded by fans in mp3 files for free. This attracted more people to sign up all around the world.

Why people choose to contribute to each of these social networking sites?
People sign up to social networking sites to catch up with friends/families, make new friends, join groups of similar interest where you can post a question, thought or opinion, upload and share photos (Facebook and MySpace).

Tutorial 5: Video Production Session

Why do you think Wii gaming has appeal to people who are not traditional video game players?
Will gaming has become a popular video game therapy used during rehab making the recovery process fun, enjoyable, exciting and interactive even for people who are not traditional video game players.

What is the relevance here to occupational therapy?
 Wii gaming in a useful occupation therapy tool because patients are able to re-develop their skills (after injury or illness) to perform functional activities that are meaningful to them such as brushing their teeth, showering, cooking, driving and paid employment.


Investigate the other applications offered by the Wii gaming consol, how else could it be used as an OT tool?
Patients become so mentally focused on the game that they are unaware that they are actually improving on their muscle strength, endurance, balance, flexibility and hand eye co-ordination. Wii sports can also be used as group therapy where patients have to work together to win against the gaming console hence improving their interpersonal skills.

Tutorial 3 & 4

 

Tutorial 4:

We were instructed to work in a group of 3 to plan and produce a short film based on a mystery letter of the alphabet that is approximately 30 seconds long. As a group we choose our mystery letter (refer video above)  and with confidence walked around Wintec (Avalon Campus) with a cute little camcorder borrowed from the OT office. 

It was only after we decided that we had enough shorts to create a short film that we realized that there was no space on the memory card in the camcorder. This meant that we had spent 15 minutes walking around campus aiming the camera at people and objects without actually recording anything. Confusion lead to hope that maybe our tutor might be able to retrieve what we as generation X couldn't. Unfortunately no such luck hence we were given a camera to redo the tedious task we were originally set out to do. As we walked out the building the little battery icon on the LCD screen of the camera indicated a flat battery. By now all three of us were tired, exhausted and annoyed. We did manage to complete the task with fresh set of batteries and two spare batteries just in case of another misfortune.

We returned to class thinking that creating the 30 second film would be a piece of cake. Boy, were we wrong. What I found difficult was that while cutting out scenes you still had to make sure the message would reach the audience (in our case the mystery letter). Keeping within the 30 second time frame was not as easy as I thought it would be. However, I enjoyed using Movie maker which is a very fun and interesting program to work.

I now have a better understanding of how much time and effort goes into producing a video. While viewing the video posted above please do take into consideration the time and effort that was invested. Not forgetting several hurdles encountered during production :). Please do leave a comment if you are able to guess what the mystery letter is :).

Storyboards are a series of illustrations or images displayed in a organized graphical sequence for motion picture or animation movies (Wikipedia). 

Scripting is created once the storyboard is completed which is similar to reading a book for example the images from the story board indicate what the character will say and what reaction they are experiencing (Wikipedia). 

Storyboarding and scripting aided my group's short film because we were able to use recordings of different images in our environment to create the ambiguity of identifying the mystery letter of the alphabet.

Tutorial 3:

Creating a blog and a Flickr account was a totally new experience for me. In the past  I have never successfully managed to keep up with diary entries and ended up discarding the idea in numerous occasions. As for photos well I just save them on my portable hard-drive or store hard copy in a scrapbook. This tutorial was definitely a new learning experience and I enjoyed creating the first three blog. I did have issues with font not showing against certain templates so the perfectionist in me will continue tweaking the problem until it's rectified.

I also enjoyed uploading photos onto the Flickr account which is kinda like a online scrapbook. I had fun playing with different designs and various options that are offered. I would definitely continue using this site and direct family/friends to my Flickr account to share my photos.

Below are the steps to follow if you are interested to create your own Blogger or Flickr account:

Blogger: (similar to a diary which contains personal thoughts and feelings to be shared to invited members around the world)

• go to blogger.com web page
• follow the steps to create Google account
• sign into Google account
• you are now able to create your own personal blog by utilizing easy to use options available.

Flickr: (similar to a scrapbook or photo album which contains personal photos that can be uploaded to be shared with invited members around the world)

• go to Flickr.com web page
• follow the steps to create flickr account
• sign into Flickr account
• you are now able to upload photos and personalized them using the different options available.

Hope you get to enjoy the experience as much as I did :)

Tutorial 2: Digital Imaging

List some of the ways that digital images are stored transferred and manipulated using information technology.

Digital images can be stored, uploaded, and edited using the following information technology:

- Flickr
- Photoshop
- Coral Paint Shop Pro Photo
- Photo Studio
- Photo Scape

“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”

A digital and film camera have comparable purposes but the end outcome (image) is achieved differently. Debating on the above topic may deem to be pointless depending on the desired outcome preferred by the user. I personally do not agree with the above statement because there are few features on the advancing new technology such as digital cameras which prove to be more suitable and convenient for the current modern era.

Digital Camera:

Advantages:

·    Ability to view image immediately

·    Self timer

·    Delete unwanted photos

·    Store photos either on camera or memory stick

·    Memory stick allows images to be stored on external drive eg laptop, desktop, hard drives etc.

·    USB port allow the camera to be connected to a printer

·    Affordable

·    Auto focus to light

·    Can record moving and still images

·    Can place on tripod for steady images

·    Optical zoom option

Disadvantages:

Can prove to be an expensive investment especially since digital camera technology is advancing with new introduction of features usually within two years.

Film Camera:

Advantages:

Low cost of camera

Hard copy of images for photo albums hence personalized touch

Disadvantages:

Images has to be developed before viewing

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

The two ethical issues concerning image capturing and distribution using IT are Privacy and confidentiality which restrict information only to parties who genuinely need to know.

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

Digital cameras can be utilised by a Occupational Therapist during interventions when working with clients.  Obviously consent will need to be acquired before the image is taken. These digital images can be used to provide evidence of the clients progress during their recovery period.

Tutorial One: Information and Ethical Problems

Definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology?

The definition of Information Technology/Information Communications Technology refers to anything related to computing technology, such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with these technologies. “Retrieved February 19. 2011, from http://www.techterms.com/definition/it.

How is this form of technology prevalent in our society? How commonplace has it become?

We live in a society that is reliant on advancing technology such as computers, laptops, ipads, internet, gps, iPods etc. Mainstream technologies enable people to engage in meaningful everyday occupations such as online shopping, online banking downloading music/videos, travel bookings, social networking websites etc. Technology has increased our ability to engage in a range of occupations that permit us to connect to the wider world, bestow information spread and exposure to different cultures and people.

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

I have embraced mainstream technologies due to the convenience it has to offer. To name a few IT devices and systems that I find comfortable and competent to use are:

·         Computer/Laptop

·         Printer

·         USB

·         Portable Hard Drive

·         Mobile/Telephone

·         Internet

·         Social Networking sites eg Facebook, Twitter etc

·         Ipod

·         GPS

·         TV/DVD

How is IT being used in Occupational Therapy practice?

An Occupational Therapist needs to ensure that activities used during therapy services are meaningful to the client. Technologies can be used as therapeutic tools during intervention to improve a client’s functional independence and occupational performance

What issues exist around OT’s adoption of IT systems and tool?

An Occupational Therapist needs to be aware of the risk associated with advancing technologies during client interventions. The negative effects can lead to issues (such as aggression and addiction) which can interfere with client goals.

During fieldwork I observed that IT systems and tools were used to record and store documents such as client notes, company policies and regulations. The issue with IT systems and tools is that during power failure this creates a dislocation from everyday routine in the commonplace environment.

What are some of the ways you can envisage IT use becoming a potential tool of practice.

An Occupational Therapist needs to exploit and take advantage of mainstream technologies as a treatment tool to meet the therapeutic needs of the client.

How can IT assist OT’s with their practice and daily lives?

An Occupational Therapist needs to acknowledge the opportunities afforded by advancing technology to ensure therapeutic activities are current and meaningful to their clients.

An Occupational Therapist can also take advantage of the benefits technologies such as a mobile has to offer i.e. accessing emails, voice calls, calendar schedule and alarm.

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

The web contains a wide spread of information available to internet users around the globe. This information can be misused by people who violate privacy, confidentiality, copyright and plagiarism laws. It is important to acknowledge and obtain consent before the source of information is shared or transferred from IT devices or the internet.

Provide a definition of Intellectual Property?

Contains human ideas such as software, patents, trademarks and copyrights.

“Retrieved February 19. 2011, http://www.investorwords.com/2526/intellectual_property.html

Provide a definition of Social Justice?

Administration of the legal conditions that apply to individuals, irrespective of ethnic origin, race, and religion, which are fair and proper.

“Retrieved February 19. 2011, http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-justice.html

Provide a definition of Informed Consent?  

Is when a person gives a legal condition based upon a full appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of any actions, with the individual being in possession of all of his faculties.

“Retrieved February 19. 2011, http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Informed_consent