Introdution
In the 21st Century, digitalization has become an inseparable part of our daily routines, reshaping how we work, communicate and interact with the world. As digital citizens, we navigate an increasngly connected society where the Internet, smartphones, and smart devices empower us with instant access to inofrmation, services and global networks. From remote work to digital banking, online education to e-government services, digitalization is revolutionizing both professional and personal domains.
KELA, Omakanta and Pension Calculation
I am foreigner living in Finland. KELA is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. It is essential to apply Kela card no matter you are living in Finland temporarily or permanently. KELA services cover almost every part of our lives, and every phase in our lives, for example, child benefit, preganancy allowance, maternity allowance, unemployment allowance, sickness allowance, and so on. The service I am currently use is the parental leave allowance. I also get child benefit every month until they are 18 years old.
The introduction of the European Health Insurance Card is very clear on KELA website. The application process for getting a European Health Insurance Card is easy and stright-forward. The card will be delivery to home soon.
I log in OmaKanta with personal identitiy code (online banking code). I can find treatment-related records and prescription information. If needed, I can request a prescription renewal, check the results of lab tests and so on. The interface is a bit old-fashion. what provide in the Omakanta is only Finnish as Swedish, I need to translate the page to English after every click. It is not user friendly for the people who don’t understand Finnish well.
I don’t find my pension information from KEVA. The pension calculation is not working on their website. In stead, I have my pension in Ilmarinen. I logged in and used the pension calculator.
It’s very easy to use. Just after a click, it automatically calculated and estimated my future pension amount.
Online shop VS Brick-and-Mortar
Amazon is a world-wide well known online shop. I have used Amazon.de to buy something a few years ago. I personally prefer Finnish or Nordic online stores than Amazon or ebay. The price is not always cheap. I never use ebay. When I open the website for this assignment, I found the products are sold from both personal users and companies. You may need to distinguish the seller to find more reliable product.
Booking and Trivago
Booking is the platform I usually use to book hotel for my personal trip. This time I browsed Trivago, it helps to compare the price from variety of platforms. But it redirect to some website that I am not familiar with, which made me feel insecure.
Both online shopping and traditional brick-and-mortar stores have their advantages and drawbacks. I make the choice depending on my needs. I’ve always been torn between the convenience of online shopping and reliability of physical stores.
Why I sometimes prefer online shopping
There is no denying the appeal of browsing endless options. When I need a rare book, a specific product, chances are, an online store has it, probably at a better price too. And if something doesn’t fit or meet my expections, return are usually hassle-free. But always remember to check the return policy. There are also cons of online shopping, only a few product images available online, it can be difficult to assess quality, texture or exact size before buying.
Why I still love Brick-and-Mortar
Nothing beats seeing, touching and trying things in person. Wen I am buying clothes, I need to feel the fabic. When it comes to tech or furniture, I wan to test it out before committing. And if I have questions, a real person is right there to help. No chatbots or endless FAQs searches. When I need something right away or need expert advice, I would like to shop in-store.
Digitalization in the workplace
In my working life, I often use MS Outlook, MS Teams, PPT and Jira. Those digital tools provide the oppotuinity to communication across world with colleauges. The modern workplace has undergone a radical transformation due to digital advancements. Traditional office setups are giving way to remote and hybrid work models, supported by cloud computing, video conferencing tools (like Zoom and Microsoft Teams), and collaborative platforms (such as Slack and Trello). These technologies enable seamless communication across borders, increasing productivity and flexibility.
Digital Gap and Risks
Despite digital benefits, digitalization presents challenges. Not everyone has equal access to technology, leading to disparities in opportunities. It sometimes hard for elder people to adapt the rapid change digital world. Some elder people may not even have smart phones. Digitalization also brings risks for personal data breaches, cyber attacks and surveillance raise concerns about personal information protection.
Test Results
The test result is good and it reflects my weakness and strength of digital competence. I don’t have too many knowledge on digital production domain. I am not familiar with progamming, coding and how it works in the background logic. However, I am aware of the data protection and personal identity management.
Self-evaluation
As technology evolves, digi citizens must stay informed, practice digital literacy, and advocate for ethical tech use. Governments and organizations should prioritize inclusive digital policies, cybersecurity measures, and sustainable innovation to ensure that digitalization benefits all members of society.
In conclusion, digitalization is no longer a luxury but a necessity, deeply embedded in work and daily life. By embracing its potential while addressing its risks, we can build a smarter, more connected, and equitable digital future.
I have commented on 3 articles