Welcome to blog two! Digital Imaging…..
Technology in computing comprises of hardware and software. Hardware is the physical medium such as a computer, digital camera or cell-phone that requires software to allow it to run properly. Software for a digital camera may include a computer programme that allows the digital images to be edited and enhanced on the computer before printing.
Digital imaging is the knack of making digital images like photos and texts. Nowadays, laptops, cell-phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants and CCTV can all take digital images of various qualities. CCTV cameras are often posted around inner cities for security purposes, providing video images as evidence. Digital cameras produce digital images of various qualities depending on the type of camera. These images can be readily accessed for manipulation, deletion, or immediately transferred to the Internet and displayed on sites such as ‘Facebook’ for recording purposes (See ‘Facebook Photos Funny Sketch’). Cell-phones are now becoming another digital image recorder. The instant click of a button allows the user to not only take a photo, but send that photo to numerous contacts within seconds (See ‘Funny Commercial’).
“A new technology is rarely superior to an old one in every feature”
Digital cameras have grown in leaps and bounds over the past 15 years or so. Compared with traditional film based cameras, they allow the user to instantly see the photo that has been taken – as well as allowing for immediate deletion! The image can be manipulated by means of different colours, size, and hue. Similarly, the printing process can be instantaneous if the user has the correct media to do this with.
Although the changeable world of digital cameras is progressing, conversely this progression can be very frustrating. The user often has to change with the technology, as for example older computers often lack the necessary software to take secure digital (SD) cards that store photos from contemporary digital cameras. Digital cameras also come with all the bells and whistles! Cords, cables, cards, extra lens and the list goes on. Although some users may be excited by this prospect, many users would find this very frustrating and rather expensive. Although digital cameras can take thousands of photos, the art of taking a photo on a traditional camera is somewhat lost in digital photography due to the apparent ease and immediacy of this. Where is the excitement of waiting for photos to be developed from your local camera store, wondering what the photos will look like?
This ease and immediacy of digital images can lead to ethical issues. When a digital image is taken on a phone for example, the time lag between taking a photo and sending it to hundreds of people is minimal. The user may not have gained the informed consent of the subject to send the photo to the recipients. On the Internet website ‘Facebook’ for example, many people appear on this site without having given consent to the original owner. If you type your own name into an Internet search engine, you may be surprised at the amount of information and photos that appear without your previous knowledge and consent for their existence!
Another ethical issue with digital images is ownership of images. Once digital images are on the Internet, they are very easy to copy, paste and essentially own. If you have copied images off the Internet, ensuring you acknowledge the source is important, as you could just as easily claim them to be your own.
Today, digital photography is being used as a tool in occupational therapy practice. At a mental health unit, it is being used as a good extrinsic motivator to make outings such as walks or exercise, appear more attractive (http://www.glencare.com/occupationaltherapy.php, 2011).
Digital images can also be used in therapy with Alzheimer’s patients. Although they are not meant to help with their memory, photos of familiar subjects such as family, or soothing images, can help calm patients that suffer from conditions that go along with Alzheimer’s; such as anxiety and paranoia (http://calmingvideos.wordpress.com/, 2010).
References:
(2010). Retrieved 2nd March, 2011, from http://calmingvideos.wordpress.com/
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