Social Media Sites

Topic: Facebook
Topic Site: https://www.facebook.com/

Review of Tool:

Facebook is a free social media site that allows you to share and connect to people from all over the world. This is a great tool for keeping communication open with those who have moved to other countries. 

Sign-up requires an active email address. Once on the site you are able to build a profile giving as much or as little detail as you want. You can upload pictures, post to others, write notes or journal entries, and much, much more. One thing to remember is to set privacy options. Facebook is public and anyone can see what is on your site unless it is privacy restricted. 

Recommended use for Public Health Messaging:

With millions of users, Facebook is the perfect platform for public health messaging. Public health professionals can utilize Facebook for creating pages dedicated to promoting multiple or specific health topics. Users can link or join and support causes that they are passionate about. This allows for free promotion of the organization websites due to links are seen on the users home page by their friends, which in turn will hopefully draw in more users or at least get the "message" out to more people. 

Other Discovering Engines

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Linked In: www.linkedin.com

Resources

Topic: Health Indicators Warehouse
Site URL: http://healthindicators.gov
Site Review:

Health Indicators Warehouse is designed for users to access data relating to national, state, and local health. Data is provided in multiple ways to facilitate ease of readability. Additionally, the site links to evidence-based interventions.

To access information on the website, the user can select topic areas from the drop down boxes under topic, geography, or initiative. Navigation requires knowing exactly what type of data you want as an end product. The website also caters to people in public, medical, or research professions by using specific terminology. 

Recommended Use for Public Health Messaging

This is a great resource tool to get data and be linked to evidence-based research for the public professional. The data obtained from this website can further enhance public health messaging by putting numbers to related messages such as the number of poisoning deaths of adults between the ages of 35-54 for example. Another example is unintended deaths of infants, this can be used with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) campaign messages. In all, this is way professionals can get linked to updated data without having to search multiple sites. 

Similar Resources

VitalStats: [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/VitalStats.htm
CDC Wonder: [http://wonder.cdc.gov/DATA2010/]

QR Code Generators

Topic: QRPhoria
Tool Site: http://qrphoria.com/

Review of QRPhoria:

QR Codes allow for transmission of data from print to digital. This can be done either by clicking on a code or using a bar code reader/scanner via a smartphone to scan a code and be transported to a multiple of different areas including websites, a contest, coupon, or video. 

QRPhoria is one type of code generator tool that allows a user to create a code for the above purpose. QRPhoria is simple, quick, and requires no registration to get started. Simply go the website with an idea of what you want to link to. Next, go through the left scroll bar to pick your data type from a long list including twitter, facebook, business card, itunes, or URL. Provide the link, style, color, and encode. The save feature allows you to save it to your computer to be used at a later time. 

Recommended Use for Public Health Messaging: 

QR code generators can be utilized in public health for either linking to pertinent websites or provide contact information. An immediate standout use would be with provide presentations. Most phones have the ability to read QR codes and by providing this features shows the audience that public health is not only keeping up with trends but utilizing them to their best advantage. This in turn will provide the audience a quick and easy way to capture data. 

Scan below to be linked to my website: Protect Yourself Against HPV

Other QR Code Generators:

SnapVu [http://snap.vu/]

FancyQRCode [http://www.fancyqrcode.com/]

Feed Readers

Topic: Feedspot
Topic Site: http://www.feedspot.com

Feed Reader:	Feedspot
Is it easy to use/understand	Yes, The sidebar offers suggestions and a website tool show you what the site features are. Additionally there is a getting started section, which goes through the sites functions.
Does it have a search feature?	At the top left hand corner is a search tool. Users can search various topics and get results regarding the top feeds available for this topic
Can you categorize/organize your feeds?	The site allows you to create folders and group various feeds based on whatever preference the user sets
Is it easy to add feeds to this reader?	You can add by doing a search of a site, enter a URL, import form other feeders, or utilize the site’s catalog on various topics of interest
How does it Look?	It is very basic and at least the free access does not allow for customization of how the feeder appears.
Favorite things about this Feed Reader	Quick access to various feeds, able to group, can share on social media sites easily
Negative things about this Feed Reader	Unable to customize; had to sign up – did not offer sign up via Google, Twitter, or Facebook
What three feeds did you sign up?	1. Discovery News 2. Linked 2           Leadership 3. CNN.com-World

Other Feeder Sites:
News Blur [http://www.newsblur.com/]

Feedly [http://cloud.feedly.com/#welcome]

Discovery Engines

TOPIC: yourversion

TOPIC SITE: http://www.yourversion.com/

Review of Tool/Site:

After glancing through multiple discovery engines, yourversion lured me in with the promise of discovering content relevant to my preferences. Sign up is free. One can link up via a Facebook or Twitter account. The site also has free apps for Ipad, Iphone, and Android increasing the accessibility of content. Youversion offers an easier way to locate and find information on the internet. Through topic interests the web is searched and content is located and put in one place. Content is found through multiple sources such as blogs, webpages, videos, or products. The user can also specify where yourversion should look. A user can share information gained, bookmark pages, or simply continue to look up more information.

As good as all of the above sounded. Signing up with Twitter was difficulty and did not work for me. Also the topics were pretty broad and felt that I needed to be extremely specific when looking for information. 

Recommended use for public health messaging: 

Although the topics found/located sometimes were not specifically what was wanted, Public health officials can utilize this tool to search in one location without having to go out and search all different sites. This can help to make research projects or health messaging research faster and more efficient. Additionally, the share button can then be used to quickly share information with others via social media. 

Other Discovery Engines:
Utopic [http://utopic.me/]
Curate Me [http://www.curate.me/]

Word Clouds

Topic: Tagul (http://tagul.com)

Review: Tagul is an online tool that allows users to create bright and colorful messages with words and shapes. These words then links into a user specified "tag" source (i.e. Google; personal websites) for more information on the word topic. 

Tagul is free to use but does require signing up to use and save the word clouds. However, Tagul allows users to use an exiting media service such as Facebook, Google, or twitter to sign up making sign up that much easier. After that it is just a few clicks until you have your word cloud. One thing to make sure is the more you want a word to be focused then you have to type that word in multiple times. 

Recommended use for public health messaging: 

Public health professionals can utilize Tagul to introduce health messages in a more creative and interactive way. Different shapes can be used to depict different meanings, such as the shape of the United States, public health logos, or animal shapes. This creates a striking visual urging users to interact with the image. Public health professionals can then use the tags to encourage viewers to click and view  link to important public health information, encouraging users to view 

Below is an example taken from Tagul's website. As you can see the words create a picture banking the visual more striking. 

Similar Widget Sites:

Wordle [http://www.wordle.net/]

Tagxedo [www.tagxedo.com] 

Public Health Widgets

Tool: Widgets
Widget Site: http://www.widgetbox.com/home/

Review of Site: 

WidgetBox office a variety of different widgets both for free and those you have to join/pay to have access to. Widgets are offered over a wide range of topics from health to widget pets! The site also offers the ability to create your own widget. 

Getting started is not hard. Just click on Widget and enter a search item. THIS is where it gets tricky. Finding exactly what you want takes a little work sifting through things that sound or appear similar to what you searched for. There is a right sidebar that allows you to browse my categories. However, again you must sift through various widgets until you find what you are looking for. 

Recommended use for public health messaging: 

Public health widgets can be utilized to enhance content on websites, blogs, or social media sites. These widgets are great tools to link to health care centers, STD information, complete risk assessments, and much more. Public health professionals can be creative and make their own widgets or link to reputable sources. Most widgets do not require any updating on the user's end.

Additional Public Health Widget Sites:

CDC Widgets [http://www.cdc.gov/widgets/]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/widgets.aspx]

Screen Capture Tools

Tool: Jing (http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html)

Review of Tool: 
Jing is a screen capture tool that allows users to capture images and videos and share them with others.

Upon installation of the Jing software, the user gets an 8 page powerpoint designed to provide step by step instructions on how to use the tool. I found this to be invaluable for first time users of screen capture tools. It was difficult to navigate the tool without first looking through the guide. The screen shots provided in the guide was helpful in pointing out the exact button to use. I would strongly recommend going through the guide even if a user is familiar with screen capture tools. 

Screencast is an additional feature of Jing. This site allows the users to upload captured images and videos to save for future use. The content is private and will not be deleted unless the user deletes it. 

Here is a capture I took of my desktop background image using Jing!

Recommended use for public health messaging: Public health officials can use Jing for a variety of different ways including sharing documents, showing the public step by step picture instructions, sharing public health videos, or collaborate on design projects within the community.

Similar Tools:
Duck Link [http://www.ducklink.com/p/free-screen-capture-tool/]
TNT Screen Capture [http://www.tntscreencapture.com/]

Public Health Website Resources

Website: NPIN Web Tools (http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/webtools/index.asp)

Review: The National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) website offers information regarding communicable diseases, social marketing, and communities at risk to name a few. This website also offers web tools called "widgets" to incorporate on your own website/blog etc. The site itself stays with varying shades of blue and similar layout per page. This allows for simplicity and ease of navigation. Cool features include a search bar located at the top of the page. This allows viewers to search for particular topics that are not highlighted in the side bar. The major flaw is with the results. Unless specific the search results could take a long time to go through to find the information a viewer might be looking for. Another cool feature is the social media apps. NPIN links with twitter, facebook, linked in, and with a click of the more button one can find several more. 

To navigate through the website viewers have a left side bar that leads to the topic. Once there, viewers rely on the top menu to navigate to the specific information they are looking for. At the end of each section, there is a "back to top" link that allows for easy navigation back to the main headings. 

Example of an HIV promotional tool

Recommended use for public health messaging: Public health officials who want to add specific logos, and disease specific widgets will find this site appealing. This site offers HIV, STD, and TB widgets. These widgets offers different background images with the similar message encouraging testing. Results are displayed within the widget allowing viewers to stay on the original website. Additionally, the widgets are automatically updated. This website offers public health officials a great way to promote testing and testing sites without having to list all of the information themselves. 

Similar Websites:

CDC: Health Communication Social Media Toolkit:[http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/ToolsTemplates/SocialMediaToolkit_BM.PDF]

[Usability.gov: Writing for the Web] [http://www.usability.gov/methods/design_site/writing4web.html]

Public Health Messaging: Cartooning / Comics

Tool: MakeBeliefsComix (http://www.makebeliefscomix.com)

Review of Tool: This site offers both an online creation tool to make your own comics as well as a printable section, which features over 350 printable templates. Another great addition is the ability to create comic strips in multiple languages such as Spanish, French, German, and Italian just to name a few.

This tool was easy to navigate. Using the online feature is Free and does not require a log-in. You have a choice of two, three, or four frames to create a unique comic strip. The site provides five basic background colors, talk and thought balloons, background objects, characters with a range of emotions, and the ability to scale items and/or characters to your own preference. After completing the comic strip the site gives you the choice to email it yourself and/or a friend. Making sharing your comic as simple as knowing email addresses. 

Click on the link below to see an example of how a comic strip can be used to promote health behaviors if the comic below is hard to read:




http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=17462625C1015673

Recommended Use for public health messaging: Using comic strips offer public health workers the ability to deliver health messages in a different form, such as humor, while still delivering a powerful health message. Comics offer a broad appeal in that they are colorful, have cartoon-like graphic, and with just 2-4 frames the message is delivered in less than a minute. The design and ease of reading makes comic a great tool to use in public health messaging. The drawback is knowing how to pick out the most important points to get the message across to the public. 

Similar Tools:
Pixton [http://www.pixton.com/]
Read*Write*Think [http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/]

Spreading Health Knowledge Through Blogging

Blog Review

Tool: Blogger (www.blogger.com)

Review of Tool:
Using blogger is FREE and requires a user to Log-in with a Google account OR sign up for a new Google account (also FREE). Once that is completed the user is given clear directions on what is needed to complete the registration process. The hard part is figuring out what to start blogging about!

I found blogger to be user friendly with the perk of a quick registration process. It is connected with Google which offers other options such as linking with friends and creating circles with already formed contacts. Blogger offers a limited amount of templates for personalizing your blog, but comes with a customization option that includes background, layout, font, and many other items to change for those of us who have a couple of hours to spare.


Recommended Use for Public Health Messaging: Blogging offers public health officials the freedom to discuss and engage others from all over the world around a single or numerous health topics. These records are kept online as references for anyone to go back and look through them, without having to connect with the initial author. These messages are accessible at any time of the day which makes the content more convenient for a reader's viewing pleasure.

The comments section facilitates communication and allows everyone to be aware of the discussion that is centering around a particular topic. Utilizing blogging as a way of spreading health messages is another avenue that must be explored in order to ensure that public health knowledge is being spread to the entire population.


Similar Tools:
Tumblr [http://www.tumblr.com/]

MyBlogLog [http://www.mybloglog.com/]

Public Health Messaging: Tools and Resources

Info-graphics/Visual Themes

Tool Review: Easel.ly (http://www.easel.ly/)

Review of Tool: Easelly is an infographic tool that allows the creation and sharing of visual charts with just a couple clicks of a button.

Multiple designs, background colors, shapes, and texts allow for fun, innovative ways to create messages. This tool is still in the beta stage which means that more improvements to the design may be made. A log in is required if you want to save and access your design at a later date. 

To start, simply type in the web address, Click on the start fresh tab, then use the tabs to Create your design. The Vhemes tab offers templates to jump start your creative side or click Clear to start from scratch. Just remember to SAVE.

For an example of how one looks check out the link below:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/141105/FeedtheBrain/image.jpg

Recommended Use for Public Health Messaging: Easel.ly incorporates both text, colors, and pictures to stimulate viewers on multiple levels. Utilizing different designs can assist in the delivery of public health messaging across a broader variety of groups. Designs can range from kid friendly with lots of pictures or filled with data and charts. Using this approach offers public health officials the opportunity to be more creative in their outreach programs.

Similar Tools:
Visual.ly [http://create.visual.ly/]
Piktochart [http://piktochart.com/]