Daily Work
I work as a radiographer in a small primary healthcare unit, which is part of a larger department within a university hospital. A radiographer’s job involves using various digital tools for each patient. In between patients, we do paperwork and use many other applications. I read referrals from the Radu system, from which I send information to the imaging machine’s own software. After the radiographic examination, the images are transferred to the PACS image archive, and the patient’s information moves from Radu to the Uranus patient information system. We schedule patient appointments using Oberon. In dental imaging, we use Digora and the machine’s own software. We work in a traditional Windows environment, so for remote meetings and communication, we use Teams, along with other standard Office tools. For ordering supplies, we use Abakus, and for patient appointment calls, we use TeliaAce. Our patients check in via a kiosk that runs its own software on the computer. These are the tools that quickly come to mind, though I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few. Today, there is an incredible number of applications that must be managed and used, making it crucial that all employees have access to easy-to-use software.
Social Media Platforms
Most of the social media tools listed for this task were already familiar to me, and I currently use or have used most of them over the years. I went through the list and selected five applications that were new to me and could be useful in my work or for my freelancing business.
Wix
As a freelancer, having a functional website and online store could be an interesting avenue to explore. Wix’s site appeared visually appealing, which is important to me. If a site doesn’t look attractive, I’m less likely to browse it further. Ease of use is a big plus for any platform. Since most web-based applications require registration, I wasn’t able to fully test how easy it is to build a website using Wix.
Slack
Based on the website, Slack seems similar to Teams, but the homepage suggests it might be more versatile. My workplace uses Teams for meetings and other shared activities. If my work involved multiple projects and frequent meetings, this application might be useful.
IAuditor
As a radiographer and radiation safety officer for our unit, I was immediately drawn to the phrase “safety culture” on the homepage. Organizational safety culture is important to me, and as I browsed the site, I considered whether this application could be useful in radiography. In medical imaging, we conduct mandatory clinical audits, and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority requires safety assessments from units. This app might be a solution for gathering all safety culture-related matters in one place.
DeepL
Comprehensive translation tools are always a welcome addition to daily work and studies. I was pleasantly surprised that this app seems capable of translating from formats like Excel spreadsheets. Translation tools have improved significantly over the years, with most translations now being error-free, depending on the tool used.
DALL-E
Artificial intelligence can now create all sorts of things, and I’ve been searching for an app that could assist in producing unique art for my freelancing and creative projects. This application seems very interesting, and I’m sure I’ll try using it as part of my art creation process.
Keys to a Successful Digital Application
The elements of a successful digital application are critical for good user experience and widespread adoption. A well-designed application attracts users and makes their lives easier. A successful digital application offers users a smooth, secure, and valuable experience. It must be easy to use, accessible, and customizable, and developers must continuously improve the app based on user feedback and changing needs. Additionally, the process of signing up and logging in should be simple and straightforward.
The Two Sides of Social Media
The use of social media has both positive and negative aspects, which impact individuals and society as a whole. On the positive side, social media facilitates communication and networking, disseminates information, fosters community, and serves as a platform for business and marketing. It allows people to connect across geographical distances and offers easy opportunities for professional networking. Social media enables fast and broad information sharing and serves as a platform for learning and keeping up with news and current events in real-time. One of the main positives of social media is its support for communities, offering opportunities to find support groups and share experiences. Social media also brings businesses closer to their customers. Most companies use it for marketing, customer service, and brand building.
However, social media has its downsides, including mental health issues, anxiety, addiction, time management problems, discrimination, cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation. Excessive use of social media has been linked to self-esteem problems, especially among young people. Comparisons to idealized images and others can cause body image pressures and feelings of inadequacy. Social media also harbors significant discrimination and outright bullying, facilitated by anonymity and distance. Additionally, addiction to social media is a common concern, turning it into a major time-waster. The amount of data collected by social media companies should be more concerning than it currently is to users. Issues like misuse of personal data and identity theft are real threats. Lastly, social media’s speed and effectiveness in spreading information also enable the rapid dissemination of false information.
Self-Evaluation
Social media is a tool that can bring people together, increase information accessibility, and offer wide opportunities for self-expression. On the other hand, its use can also negatively affect mental health, raise privacy concerns, and foster addiction. Balanced and responsible social media use can help harness its benefits and minimize its negative effects. I use many social media platforms and believe that accessibility to people has improved thanks to them. But is that a good or bad thing? If you want to be unreachable, you simply don’t join social media. A good example of accessibility is organizing a high school reunion. Most of my former classmates are on some social media platform. Previous generations had a much higher chance of losing track of their classmates after graduation. Social media allows you to keep more people in your life, regardless of distance. This task also made me realize how many applications I use daily in my work.