Video: Navigating Your Health with Electronic Devices

Transcript:

Voiceover: This program is made possible with the support and collaboration of Pfizer Oncology.

Carmen:

Hi again!

Now that you’ve learned how to get started on social media and connect with your friends and loved ones, we’re going to move on to putting your mobile devices–like your smartphone and tablet–to work for you and your health.

Before we move on, let’s review what we learned in the last video. You may have already taken some of these steps, such as:

• Joining an online support group or Facebook group to connect with others.
• Following an advocacy group related to your condition on Twitter to learn more about their activities.
• Find hashtags related to your condition to stay updated on news and information.

Quincy:

Great, thank you, Carmen!

Now, let’s learn about the main types of mobile devices:

• Smartphones and tablets are very similar and are sort of like mobile computers. The main difference is the size of the screen and their portability.
• A smartphone is a phone that also has the ability to access the internet.
• A tablet is a wireless touchscreen device, mainly used to get online. It’s larger than a smartphone and more portable than a laptop.
• You can download apps that makes the tablet or smartphone even more convenient.

App is short for “application.” Apps give you access to online tools or websites, but usually in a more user-friendly way that works well with your mobile devices.

Apps can add convenience to your life by allowing you to utilize online tools on-the-go. For instance, the Facebook app will let you access your account on your mobile device, instead of having to log into a computer.

Carmen:

Most smartphones and tablets come with a built-in app store. The two most popular, are the Google Play Store for Android devices and the App Store for Apple devices. Many apps are free, but others may charge a fee.

Quincy:

So, how do you download an app? Let’s walk through the steps:

• Tap on the App Store or Google Play store on your mobile device.
• Use the search bar to search for the app that you would like to download. For example, “Facebook.”
  • Ensure that you are downloading the correct app by confirming the name and the description of the service. Note that it may not always be the first app that shows up in your search.
• When you find what you’re looking for, tap on “download” and it will be added to your mobile device. It may take a few minutes to download completely.
• Your app should now be on your phone and ready to use.
• Depending on the type of app you’ve downloaded, you may need to login or create an account.

The app that you downloaded will often ask if you want to receive push notifications. So, what is a Push Notification? It’s a message that pops up on your mobile device to alert you about activity on an app.

For example, a push notification will appear as a message on your screen, sometimes with a tone, when someone likes your photo on Facebook.

Some apps may also ask if you’d like to share your location. This is generally only required for apps related to maps or transportation.

You can always adjust which push notifications you receive or location sharing by going to the settings app on your device.

Carmen:

This should help you understand the basics of mobile devices and apps. A good next step is to download an app that you would like to use, so you can become more familiar with the process.

And stay with us, because in the next video, we’ll review apps that can assist you on your healthcare journey—from transportation to relaxation.

Quincy:

See you again soon!