Digital Imaging

Information technology(IT), in todays world has enhanced our ability to store , share and transfer knowledge through the use of digital imagery. These images can be altered to create a desired effect if the individual desires. One soft ware programmes that enable us to this are photo shop.Computors all have programmes that enabling storing, sending or manipilating images, all you have to know is how to access and work these programmes, its that simple! Yeah right ha ha!
Some examples of the ways in which we apply digital imaging are video cameras. live preveiw digital cameras, laptops(transferring images), camera phones for capturing and transferring and some ability to store. skpe, not sure of the spelling on this one , but its pretty handy if you know how, you can look at whoever you're talking to or you can move the camera component to show the person(s) what you're talking about .This gives the veiwer a far more accurate idea of what you're talking about, as they say "a picture is worth a thousand words".
Some other ways in which images can be transferred are up loading images from camera to be stored in a personal file, or sent to another for storage, use or clarification e.g as an OT an we can take a photo of a piece of equipment or of something needing adaptation, up load it to a website to get others input, or email to another professional in order to clarify or identify what may need to be done. W can take a video and transfer the knowledge to a blogg site to back up a written discription, again clarifying meaning and generate understanding of what is meant, needed, or more accuratly discribe a situation, condition or the implications of a condition or disability. As a student I have experienced this method of transferring information through imaging alot in creating a better understanding of a condition in several of my classes.
We can say that "a new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature", but actually its pretty hard to fault the advances technology has made in regard to digital imagery, in both the camera itself and its mirade uses that IT has opened up. They're quick and easy to capture images on, we can just delete any pictures we don't want by veiwing and pushinag a button immediatly, no need for development avoiding expense and time delay. They can be up loaded to yor personal computer or sent to anyone any where in the world at any time, and the veiwed a fraction of time later.The quality of the digital photo versus the good old manual can be debated, but to the general Joe it looks pretty equal in quality. And theres the added advantage of being able to print out as many copies as you like the only cost is in ink, and a fraction of your time in comparison withe traditional version of printing. There is one or two down falls though, transferring of images and/or posting them on a publec or private forum opens the door for some ethical issues such as the inappropriate use of images, invasion of privacy and getting consent from individuals captured sunbathing, in the background of the photo your mates at the beach for example, this could be intentional or unintentional. Idea pirating is another problem e.g who owns the image, there have been legal disputes over ownership and the finacial gain made from some images.
In the Occupational Therapy professon the technology at fingertips has become invaluable in sharing information and knowledge, as well as being able to store an image instead of relying some times inaccurate memory. For example as an OT you go off to see your client who is having truoble with bathroom accessibility, and the layout of the room its self is causing difficulty, and the fittingds and fixtures may need adaptation as well, instead of writing a book trying to discribe , accurately the situation, a file of well taken images can store that information.This information can be transferred to any other professionals required to get the job done e.g builders, funding agencies or other OT for their opinion. These no variation in interpretation because its right the in colour or black and white as the saying goes.
If, as Occupational Therapist, we're involved with mobility, in this case physical movement in p[erforming an action , we can video the movement for later analysis and compare, adapt equipment to fit the action or the disability. We can also use digital images stored on file to monitor the progress of a client and avaluate the successfulness of a prescribed intervention. Using images of the intervention in use, so we can evaluate why it did or didn't work anf veiw where changes need to be made. The list of uses in digital imagery gets longer and longer as IT and its associated uses keeps growing. What will we do when we run out of the resources ie oil and electricity, will we rememer what a pen and paper is? Or will generations down the years think the pencil is a new invention?
And if you're anything like me, who is still struggling to grasp the basics of blogging, hyperlinks (thats why I haven'y used any yet) and the internet, knowledge or the lack of is one of the major faults in the use of IT, and I have to say I struggle with being taught in a group, for me one on one and clear recise instructions are required, actually digital imaging could be used as a form of instruction in this paper at least I'd have some reference to go on!