An orientation:
What does it mean to be a digital citizen? We encounter digitization every day, even every hour. We use phones and apps, work with devices and software, and experience digital visions and sounds. Digitization offers great opportunities for citizens when it becomes routine.
Kela
My family and I don’t need Kela’s services much. We only get child allowance or maternity and paternity leaves. I already have got my European health care card, and so did the rest of my family. Here is some information from Kela’s website.
European Health Insurance Card
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has many advantages. Here are some of them, based on Kela’s official website.
Healthcare abroad:
The EHIC lets you get healthcare in Europe when you travel. You can use the card like the locals do. The card shows the healthcare provider what treatment you can get. Free or cheaper healthcare: With the EHIC, you can get healthcare for free or at a lower cost. But you may have to pay some part of the cost, which is usually less with the card. Emergency care: The EHIC gives you access to emergency care abroad. The card helps you get the treatment you need fast and cheap. Easy to use: The EHIC is simple to use. You just show the card to the doctor or hospital, and they handle everything. The card has all the information, so you don’t have to remember or explain anything. It is important to know that the EHIC does not cover all healthcare costs. So, it is still good to have travel insurance that covers more healthcare situations. Also, the card does not cover non-needed or non-urgent treatments.
The EHIC makes it easier to get healthcare when you travel in Europe. It gives you peace of mind, knowing that you can get treatment if something happens.
Source: Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), ”European Health Insurance Card” (https://www.kela.fi/web/en/european-health-insurance-card-ehic-)
Omakanta service
I logged in to the Omakanta service with strong authentication. To make sure it is secure, the Omakanta service needs strong authentication through the Finnish identification service (suomi.fi). This method is very safe, especially when it comes to personal health information.
Keva
I checked my pension on the website as well as in Ilmarinen, where I also logged in with strong authentication. It was easy to see how much pension I had earned, and by changing the salary number, I could also see what a good salary would be for my pension goal.
Digital Shops
Visit e.g. digital shops like eBay, Amazon, Booking.com, Trivago and evaluate the prizes to local shop prices, and information adequacy to the consumer. Is the chosen service reliable?
I visited the websites of eBay, Amazon, Booking.com, and Trivago and compared the prices of a few items to the prices of the same items in local shops. I found that the prices on the websites were generally lower than the prices in the shops, but there were some exceptions. For example, the price of a book on Amazon was lower than the price of the same book in a local bookstore, but the price of a pair of shoes on eBay was higher than the price of the same shoes in a local shoe store.
The information provided on the websites was generally adequate, but there were some cases where I would have liked more information. For example, the description of a hotel on Booking.com did not include any information about the size of the rooms.
Overall, I found that the websites of eBay, Amazon, Booking.com, and Trivago were reliable and easy to use. I would recommend these websites to anyone who is looking for a good deal on a product or service.
Find one service/application from my own field (I am electronic engineer). Explain reasons for your choice and your user experiences.
As an electronic engineer, I use a variety of software and hardware tools to do my job. One of my favorite tools is the Arduino development platform. Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that makes it easy to build and program microcontrollers. I have used Arduino to build a variety of projects, including a robot, a weather station, and a home automation system.
I chose Arduino because it is easy to use and has a large community of users. There are many tutorials and resources available online, and I can always find help if I get stuck. I also like that Arduino is open-source, which means that I can modify the software and hardware to meet my specific needs.
Digitalization and digital gap; what are the risks and challenges for those people, who do not use virtual services?
The digital divide is the gap between people who have access to technology and those who do not. This gap can be caused by a variety of factors, including income, education, and location.
People who do not use virtual services are at a disadvantage in a number of ways. They may have difficulty finding information, communicating with others, and accessing essential services. They may also be less likely to participate in the digital economy, which can lead to economic inequality.
There are a number of things that can be done to address the digital divide. These include providing affordable access to technology, increasing digital literacy, and creating more opportunities for people to use virtual services.
Do the Digital Competence Test here. (If you want to show your skills – go to Open Badges to get certificates)
I took the Digital Competence Test and scored 80%. I was pleased with my score, but I know that there are some areas where I could improve. I plan to take some online courses to learn more about digital technologies.
Self-reflection
Through these assignments, I have learned a lot about digitalization and the digital divide. I have also learned about the importance of digital competence and how to improve my own digital skills. I believe that digitalization is a positive force in the world, but it is important to be aware of the risks and challenges associated with it. I am committed to using my digital skills to help others and to bridge the digital divide.
I have commented on these blogs:
https://blogi.savonia.fi/auvinen/digi-citizen/#comment-11
https://blogi.savonia.fi/johanhuh/digi-citizen/#comment-18
https://blogi.savonia.fi/madde/digi-citizen/#comment-13