So in this post I am going to be discussing digital imaging; the types of hardware and software that are available, how digital camera technology is advancing and the pros and cons to this, the ethical issues that arise from capturing and sharing images, and how OT can use these developing technologies.
A digital camera is an electronic device that captures both still and moving pictures and stores them electronically. Pictures and video can be transferred to a computer where a number actions can be performed on it. We may just 'store' them on the computer, print them out and put them in an album or use other information technology to process them or display them. Flickr and Snapfish are both examples of free online services that allow us to store our photos on a database, manipulate them, display them to our friends and family, and produce copies in the form of stationery or calendars for example. Facebook allows us to do the same. Youtube allows us to "broadcast ourselves" and share our videos; it is also a really good research tool for example when I needed to find out what the Gower's Manouvre (Gower sign, 2007) was for another class, I went to YouTube.
News websites (like stuff.co.nz), newspapers and television broadcasters have used words and photos for a long time to represent what is happening in the world...now each have added video..so when the Japan earthquake hit last week for example, I was able to 'watch' the news online. Radio stations are using podcasts (like these ones from NewsTalk ZB (Podcast-recent, 2011) to replay live radio. Windows Moviemaker allows us to take a number of video shots and/or photos and present them as a movie, adding music and special effects if we choose (see my post Tutorial Four and Five). Across all of these technologies it seems we are able to manipulate the photo or movie by cutting it, enhancing the colour, removing the red eye, changing colour to black and white or sepia, and so on, and so on....
I personally use a digital camera and digital video camera mainly to document my children growing up. Because I live so far away from all my family and many of my friends, the ability to download my photos onto facebook or send a video clip through email has enabled me to keep people up to date. The same people have been able to see my children grow up through pictures and video.
"A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature"
Is this true? Yes and no, I think! We can capture more now with our digital cameras because we have the multiple tools on it to compensate for bad light..or too much light etc. We no longer have to limit ourselves to the number of photos we take due to cost of film and developing costs. The quality of our 'snapshots' is better and because they are digital we can transfer them electronically and share them with the world. On the downside however we are so free and easy with our photo taking that do we actually take good shots? Whilst we can manipulate our photos electronically, there was something magical about processing in a dark room (if we were inclined to)..or at least waiting for our developed photos to be returned before putting them in an album. In consideration of both sides however I prefer the now rather than the then...simply for the fact that the now is on the whole cheaper and I can share my photos with my family overseas electronically rather than having to take them to the post office!
Digital photography is a great tool to use in Occupational Therapy practice. OTs can use this technology to document progress of a client for example photographing or videoing a person's progress as they work towards better posture. Photos or video can be used in many education sessions to demonstrate good lifting techniques for example. Another example is the use of photo therapy.
Of course there are the ethical issues to consider. Ownership issues are about who owns the photo..if you don't own the photo then you are not allowed to publish it. Connected to this is informed consent; as a parent I have signed an agreement with my daughter's school that they are allowed to take photos of her and publish them on the website if appropriate..of course if I hadn't given my consent they would not be allowed to do this.
So here ends this blog...roll on the next!
Reference list
Gower sign (2007). Retrieved March 19, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI6utCce_3g.
Podcast - recent (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2011 from http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audioshowpod.asp?podlink=newstalkipod.xml&podname=Recent
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