Technology Use Scenarios

Scenario 12:

Matt enjoys taking pictures with his digital camera. His pictures are quite unusual and can be easily identified as his work. He wants to let other people see his pictures so he posts them on his website. A couple of months later he is surfing the Internet and sees some of his pictures on someone else’s website. At first he is flattered that someone enjoyed his pictures, but on closer inspection he sees that he is not credited anywhere on the site as the person who took the photos. The way the images are posted makes it seem as if the site owner had taken the pictures.

In this case, both Matt and the owner of the website are misusing technology. Matt is using technology inappropriately because he did not identify the work as his own since he did not create a copyright for his own pictures. The owner of the website is also misusing technology because he did not even try and find out who the owner of these pictures really is so he could credit them. As a digital citizen, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are using technology correctly, and ensure that those around us are also doing the same. A friend of mine is a Photographer and uses different outlets to release his pictures so they can already be identified as his own. For example, one way that Matt could have prevented all of this is by setting up his own page on facebook or even his own website, where he can release all of his pictures and take credit for them. This is a really good example that shows Digital Citizenship must be a two way street, we must respect ourselves so that in return, we can be respected.