DIGI CITIZEN
Exploring Digitalization: Personal Insights and Reflections
Digitalization has become an essential part of modern life, influencing everything from healthcare and social security to online shopping and professional tools. Completing these assignments gave me a chance to reflect on my own experiences with digital services and their impact on daily life. Here’s an overview of my journey through the tasks and my reflections.
Familiarizing with KELA Services
As a Finnish resident, KELA has always been a cornerstone of my social security. I use KELA services for purposes like healthcare reimbursements and child benefits for my family. One particularly useful digital tool is KELA’s online platform, where I can submit applications, monitor the status of ongoing claims, and receive notifications. The platform is intuitive and secure, making administrative tasks smoother and more efficient.
I also applied for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which allows access to medically necessary care while traveling within Europe. The process was seamless—I ordered it through KELA’s online service, and the card arrived promptly. This is a fantastic example of how digitalization improves access to international healthcare benefits.
OmaKanta and Health Data Access
OmaKanta is one of the most valuable tools for healthcare management. Logging into the platform via strong electronic identification (using my bank credentials), I can view my medical records, prescription history, and even laboratory results. OmaKanta’s user-friendly interface ensures that I can track and manage my healthcare data conveniently.
The ability to renew prescriptions online through OmaKanta is particularly helpful, saving time and reducing the need for unnecessary clinic visits. This system enhances transparency and provides patients with control over their health data.
Pension Estimate from Keva
Curious about my financial future, I checked my retirement age expectations on Varma’s website. My minimum retirement age is 66, the expected retirement age is 67 years and 7 months, and the maximum retirement age is 70 years. The platform provided clear and detailed projections based on my employment history.
The results made me reflect on retirement planning—working until 70 would provide a more substantial pension, but I also considered the balance between financial security and quality of life in retirement.
Keva’s and Varma´s service are an excellent example of how digital tools can make complex topics like pensions more accessible and understandable to individuals.
Comparing Online and Local Shopping
To evaluate online shopping, I compared prices and services between digital platforms (Amazon, eBay, and Booking.com) and local shops in Finland.
Amazon/eBay: These platforms often offer competitive prices, especially for electronics and international brands. However, shipping costs and delivery times can vary significantly, particularly for items shipped from abroad.
Booking.com: The platform excels in providing detailed information about accommodations, including reviews and flexible booking options.
Local shops: While prices may be slightly higher, local shops offer immediate availability and the possibility to inspect products before purchase. They also contribute to supporting the local economy.
The key takeaway is that while online platforms are convenient, they cannot fully replace the reliability and customer experience of physical stores.
A Digital Service in My Field: Building Automation Systems
From my professional perspective, one of the most impactful digital services is building automation systems integrated with AI and IoT technologies. These systems are designed to optimize energy efficiency, monitor equipment, and predict maintenance needs, creating smarter and more sustainable buildings.
For example, I’ve used platforms that allow remote monitoring and control of cold storage equipment in logistics. These systems provide real-time data on temperature and energy consumption, enabling quick responses to potential issues. The automation reduces operational costs and ensures food safety, which is critical in cold storage logistics.
Digital Gap and Challenges for Non-Users
Digitalization has brought remarkable benefits, but it also creates challenges for those who lack access to digital tools or skills. For example elderly individualsoften face difficulties in adapting to new technologies, leaving them reliant on others for tasks like online banking or accessing healthcare services and low-income households may struggle to afford the necessary devices or internet access, widening the inequality gap.
The key challenge is ensuring that digital services remain inclusive, offering alternatives for those who are not yet digitally literate.
Comments on Articles
As part of the assignment, I explored several student blogs and left comments. One particularly interesting blog discussed AI in healthcare. I shared my thoughts on the potential of AI in predictive diagnostics, drawing from my own experiences with building automation and predictive maintenance. Engaging with others’ perspectives enriched my understanding of digitalization in different fields.
Digital Competence Test
Taking the Digital Competence Test was an eye-opener. The results highlighted my strengths in problem-solving and information literacy, but also showed areas where I could improve, such as advanced cybersecurity practices. This inspired me to enroll in an online course on data protection to strengthen my knowledge further.
Self-Reflection: What I Learned
Completing these assignments gave me a deeper appreciation of how digitalization shapes our lives. Some key takeaways include:
- The importance of user-friendly and secure platforms like OmaKanta and KELA online services in simplifying administrative processes.
- The growing role of AI and automation in making industries more efficient.
- The need to address the digital gap to ensure equal access to services for all.
On a personal note, I’ve also realized how much I rely on digital tools daily, from managing healthcare data to retirement planning and professional tasks. Moving forward, I aim to continue improving my digital skills, particularly in cybersecurity, to stay ahead in this ever-evolving landscape.
Digitalization is not just about technology—it’s about creating a better and more connected world. By embracing these tools while remaining mindful of inclusivity and security, we can ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are shared by all.
Thank you for reading my text! I hope you enjoyed it and found something thought-provoking in the writing! I also hope that you would like to comment on my thoughts; reading the comments is the best part of this task!
I wish you all the best. Good luck with your studies and sunny winter days!
My comments:
Lea Koivistoinen
https://blogi.savonia.fi/leokoivistoinen/digi-citizen/
29/01/2025 at 12:39
Hi! Digital services at the same time create more opportunities to participate in society (social media, online shopping, healthcare you name it…) but on the other hand isolate from society those who do not have the skills or opportunities to use smart devices or computers.
When designing digital services, accessibility should also remember and services should be designed so that, for example, a visually impaired person can use a remote healthcare service. Visual and audio information can be combined with the most important online services. On the other hand, it is clear that a person with physical disabilities benefits greatly from remote services and enables contact with the rest of society instead of always having to leave home every time.
It sounds like construction technology will benefit in many ways from the development of artificial intelligence. It’s surprising what kind of innovations there are already in the field.
I work in healthcare myself and there is a lot of talk about artificial intelligence in the field, but in reality, we will have to wait a long time for major developments in diagnostics, for example. The problem is the amount of data needed to “train” artificial intelligence to be as sure as a professional, but also strict legislation.
13/02/2025 at 9:29
Hello Tiina,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. You have an interesting approach.
I liked your thought about elderly people, who are not so familiar with digitalization era. Personally, I know some elderly people who are already pensioners and over 80 year old but still have some work life and they use computer better than me! Of course, it costed them a lof ot time, studies, but everything is possible.
Have a nice study and sunny days!
PS You can visit my blog and comment on my ideas.
https://blogi.savonia.fi/anastasiialiske/
03/03/2025 at 11:56
Hi Tiina,
Thank you for the interesting article on digital society. Your thoughts on Kela, OmaKanta and Keva were quite similar to my own. It was interesting to read about your work and the use of AI and IoT technologies. It sounds that the future brings new and exciting possibilities and more effective ways of doing things.
I totally agree with you on the challenges that the digital gap will bring. We need to make sure that everyone has access to the services they need.
Satu, https://blogi.savonia.fi/satum/
04/03/2025 at 14:20
Hi!
It was nice to read your blog. You have reflected well on the importance of KELA in your life. You have also described how important role OmaKanta plays in healthcare. You gave examples of automation in the construction industry. It was interesting to read! Services like that certainly make work easier.
-Siiri
07/03/2025 at 14:50
Thanks for the good an easy-to-read post! I agree, that digital services should be inclusive to all users, even those, who are not digitally literate. You also mentioned that a lot of elderly are reliant on others with things like online banking. It’s worth considering with the bank credential identification, that it’s actually possible to give your credentials to a family member to use, which shouldn’t be the case. It would be good to provide identification systems, that would be both easy to use, and ensure that the correct user is using them. Also, I think it’s also good to allow elders to use phone calls to handle their important matters. I have found that many elderly people are comfortable with making phone calls. Also, phone calls can allow a rather strong identification, as many questions can be asked via phone, to identify that it is the correct person.
07/03/2025 at 14:51
Ps. welcome to check out my blog site: https://blogi.savonia.fi/johannassite