For this week’s discussion, I am going to review an app I am not the most familiar with but is one I use to keep in touch with friends and family overseas. We use Signal Private Messenger. It is wonderful for me because I can send videos of the pups doing the weird things they do to my husband. We went to the dog park today and a squirrel made questionable life decisions by trapping itself in a tree with multiple hunting dogs within proximity. I was less limited on the timing of videos sent, unlike other applications. *Please note, the squirrel did survive, and hope it counts its blessings – or acorns. Unsure what a squirrel’s thought process is personal. Also, the squirrel never came down; however, that would be a race to be seen for the ages.
As I am relatively new to Signal, I decided to research a bit. I have been keeping an interest in the discourse in Iran currently and was very appreciative to see that Signal is working to connect to people in Iran, as currently, there is a humanitarian crisis occurring. I learned that I could help by setting up a proxy server. It is a twofold benefit – I get to learn more fundamentals and help a cause I am passionate about. (Meredith-signal, 2022) It seems I will need to do more research in how to help and know what I am doing prior to this endeavor. Over 200 people have died – and this is a critical global moment. “The situation is quite stressful, but it is quite hopeful as well. It is stressful because you never know whether the person standing next to you is a member of the security force. And yet it is hopeful because you can see that your voice is finally being heard, especially this time on an international level, despite all the [internet] filtering that is going on in Iran.” (Robinson, 2022) As I will explain later, I prefer a smaller tech footprint; however, that does not mean I do not want to engage on matters of consequence – and through technology, I can.
Attached are screenshots of the user-friendly functionality of the app. I have used similar apps, such as Skype and WhatsApp before – the same as this app, only for a specific communication purpose. As far as what is the best communication app, I would not have the answer. I would think it would be based on personal preference. The video Mobile App Research and Planning explains the importance to know what the customer wants/needs. Having a secure messaging platform is comforting, especially today.
On my personal account, I have chosen an emoticon that matches my goofiness, and have personalized the settings to my preferred text size, type, color scheme, and group settings when applicable. It was great to keep my husband in the loop when the hurricane caused a tree to land on my house in South Carolina. My sister-in-law and her husband (Navy) live there currently and fortunately, no one was hurt and no structural damage. – The silver lining is the backyard is now bigger, as they are in the market for a puppy themselves.
Many of the recruiters I speak to often ask me about social media applications other than LinkedIn – mainly for profiling. I have opted out as I do not feel those applications are the best psychologically and socially. LinkedIn is good for me as a contractor and yet I am still able to have that disconnect from my personal life. Intrapersonal relationships and connections are far more important to me, so smaller platforms of media/technology/mobile applications are better suited.
Meredith-signal. (2022, September 22). Help people in Iran reconnect to Signal – a request to our community. Retrieved from Signal: https://signal.org/blog/run-a-proxy/
“Mobile App Research and Planning.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2012, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=282595&xtid=47489. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.
Robinson, N. (2022, October). Iran protester: 'You know that you might never come back'. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63227238
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