Uses
This is my "/uses" page - inspired by uses.tech - documenting the tools, software, and setup that power my work in digital literacy research and education.
π» Hardware
Primary Setup
- Computer: [Your main machine]
- Monitor: [External displays if any]
- Input: [Keyboard, mouse, etc.]
- Audio: [Headphones, microphones for recording]
Mobile
- Phone: [Your device for mobile work]
- Tablet: [If you use one for reading/notes]
π§ Knowledge Management
Core System
- Obsidian - Primary knowledge management and note-taking
- Digital Garden Plugin - Publishing vault to digitallyliterate.net
- Zotero - Academic reference management
- Hypothesis - Web annotation and research
Key Obsidian Plugins
- Dataview - Dynamic content queries
- Templater - Automated note creation
- Smart Connections - AI-powered note linking
- Calendar - Daily note organization
π Writing & Research
Academic Writing
- Pandoc - Document conversion and formatting
- LaTeX - Academic paper typesetting
- Grammarly - Writing assistance and editing
Content Creation
- Ghost/WordPress - Blog publishing
- ConvertKit/Mailchimp - Newsletter distribution
- Canva - Visual content creation
π Web & Development
Site Management
- GitHub - Version control and digital garden hosting
- Netlify - Static site deployment
- Cloudflare - DNS and performance optimization
Development Tools
- VS Code - Code editing and markdown work
- Terminal - Command line operations
- Git - Version control workflow
ποΈ Media & Communication
Recording & Editing
- [Audio tools for podcasts/interviews]
- [Video tools for presentations]
- [Screen recording for tutorials]
Communication
- Zoom/Teams - Video conferencing
- Slack/Discord - Team communication
- Signal - Secure messaging
π Privacy & Security
Essential Security
- 1Password - Password management
- VPN Service - [Your choice]
- Encrypted Messaging - Signal, Wire
- Secure Email - ProtonMail or similar
Privacy Tools
- Browser Extensions - uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger
- Search - DuckDuckGo primary, Google when needed
- DNS - Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Quad9
π Reading & Research
Information Management
- RSS Reader - [Your choice - Feedly, NetNewsWire]
- Read Later - Pocket, Instapaper, or Obsidian web clipper
- Academic Papers - Connected Papers, Semantic Scholar
- News Aggregation - [Your news sources]
E-Reading
- Kindle - For books and research papers
- PDF Annotation - [Your tool of choice]
- Audiobooks - Audible, library apps
π― Productivity & Focus
Task Management
- [Your system - Things, Todoist, or Obsidian tasks]
- Calendar - Google Calendar integration
- Time Tracking - [If you use any]
Focus Tools
- Website Blockers - [Focus apps if used]
- Notification Management - [How you handle distractions]
- Pomodoro/Time Boxing - [Your approach]
π Physical Workspace
Office Setup
- Desk: [Standing desk, traditional, etc.]
- Chair: [Ergonomic setup]
- Lighting: [Natural light, desk lamps]
- Organization: [Filing, physical notebooks]
Backup & Storage
- Cloud Storage - [Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.]
- Local Backup - [External drives, NAS]
- Document Scanning - [Physical-to-digital workflow]
π Why These Choices?
Philosophy: My tool choices prioritize open standards, data portability, and privacy by design. I avoid vendor lock-in where possible and prefer tools that let me own my data.
Evolution: This setup has evolved over nearly a decade of digital literacy research. The core principle is tools that enhance thinking rather than complicate it.
Recommendations: Happy to discuss any of these tools! Reach out if you have questions about implementing similar workflows.
Last Updated: August 3, 2025
See Also: About Me β’ Now
This page is part of the IndieWeb "/uses" tradition of sharing our digital toolkits. Find more at uses.tech.