Citation

Saunders BE. Child Maltreat. 2008; 13(4): 417-423.

Affiliation

Medical University of South Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077559508323763

PMID

18843145

Abstract

The articles in this special issue describe how different types of technology can be applied in the child maltreatment field to improve activities. This commentary suggests that though new technology does not necessarily make for better content, it does create exciting new possibilities that creative minds can use to advance the field. The projects described in this issue are examples of such creativity and give a glimpse of the future. However, advances in technology applications do not come without some cost and some loss. Technological approaches may reduce human interaction and result in the loss of its intangible benefits. The commentary suggests that the child maltreatment field appears ripe for broad-based application of technology in three areas: web-based professional training, self-directed interventions and prevention programs, and use of social networking technology. Finally, ideas are proposed for understanding the true cost of developing, implementing, and maintaining technological applications.

Language: en