Kela

I’ve been using Kela’s website since 2011 as a student, applying for student aid and a student loan. In 2015, also for a few months by applying for unemployment benefits. Such electronic services have always been easy for me to use. I have also helped my spouse and siblings in applying for student aid and unemployment benefits. In the assignment, we talked about the European medical card, which can be found on the website of Kela. I didn’t even know that I could get such a card that by showing it, I can get the treatment I need in EU countries at the same price as in Finland. I have now applied for a card and I told my spouse to get one as well.

Omakanta ja keva

Using Omakanta is also familiar to me. I can log in from the omakanta.fi website and identify myself with online banking credentials or a certificate card. I go to the site to read reception records, renew prescriptions if necessary and look at the results of laboratory tests. The last time a group of friends talked about retirement was in January, and that’s when we went to the pages of keva to see the lowest retirement age is I’m 68 years old. At the age of 68, I would receive a pension of 1,726€ and at the age of 70 it would be 1,948€.

Digital shop

I am not familiar with eBay, Amazon or trivago. I know that eBay and Amazon are online stores where you can find a wide selection of goods from many different categories. These applications are very popular worldwide. On Ebay, any private person or company that registers as a user can trade and auction goods, services or products. As a user, you can also buy the aforementioned things from the service. Amazon started as an online book store, which has since expanded to many kinds of products. Trivago and booking work as a search engine for hotels. You can use these search engines to find the hotel that suits you at the best price. I myself have used the wish application more and the booking application for booking hotels abroad and also in Finland.

The goods for sale on Ebay are new and used. A new playstation 5 costs €500 on Ebay and €600 in Finland. Dyson v15 price on Ebay is €339 and in Finland at Gigant €799. I also looked at prices for clothes and furniture. The prices seem to be generally cheaper than in Finland. When looking at the prices of more expensive items, I wonder if the products are genuine and if the electronics ordered from ebay can be used in Finland.

I would think these services are reliable because I don’t think they are that popular otherwise. I always use a credit card when ordering from abroad. My credit card has payment protection in case the item I bought doesn’t arrive or there are other difficulties with the delivery. Warranty issues are also easier in Finland.

Digitalization and digital gap

Virtual services have progressed rapidly within 20 years. I think the pace of development has been so fast that not everyone has kept up with it. There are also people who of their own volition do not want to use virtual services. Today, virtual services have expanded everywhere, e.g. Phones, online banking, job announcements, school and work. A person who has opted out of virtual services unintentionally or on purpose can miss out on services.

Blogs I have commented on:

DIGI CITIZEN – Digital Satu (savonia.fi)

DIGI CITIZEN – Sanna Vidgren (savonia.fi)

DIGI CITIZEN | Esko`s site (savonia.fi)

Digital Competence test

Self-reflection

Kela and omakanta are sites I am very familiar with. I didn’t learn anything new about their use. The European medical care card issued by Kela was new to me and I immediately learned more about it. I’ve also visited Keva’s website a few times in the past to look at my own pension information, when it’s been discussed with a friend or in a work group. I didn’t get to learn more about Keva’s pages now.

When I order products online for myself, I generally use Finnish-language websites or the store’s own websites. Nowadays, it is very rare to order from ebay-like online stores. I learned a bit about using and comparing prices during these assignments. Criticality is also good to remember when shopping online.