Mobile Bible Thoughts
In thinking about this new software that I am using on my Treo, I am thinking about teh various Bible software that I have used and whether it really maximizes my mind/abilities when it comes to using it. This is not to say that Bible+ is not good enough for me, it very much is. However, in the last less than a day of using TypeRight, I have different expectations for software that proposes not just to be info-holding, but info-retrieval and sharing.
For example, I am very much moved away from using BibleGateway as a main reference when at a browser because of the ability to tag and annotate search results in eBible. I find that I many times see something understood better if I am looking for it in a particular context and eBible really does that for me (though BibleGateway by far offers more versions and commentaries than even what I can fit on my Palm). But then I look at Bible+ and it really is a cludge sometims to get where I want to get to (sure I use the shortcuts for everything, but its not intuitive). I am wondering could be done on a total mobile scale that would not just make Bible reading easier, but more accessible as well (something like a TypeRight that's half online and a Bible app too).
My thoughts flow like this
- a Bible reader in the vein of Bible+ where the reader is free, as well as the majority of the content (the latter varies per country for legal reasons)
- an ability to search content saved on one's device, but then also access content online/wirelessly (such as have a Bible locally, but in your "online personal area" have resources such as commentaries, lexicons, and additional Bibles that may not fit on one's device)
- an ability to bookmark and annotate but then share those bookmarks/notes via that "online personal area" or just keep them saved on one's device for personal use
- a mobile accessible online area where one can admin tags, join communities, and read testimonies of others who have this program and share it.
The benefits of a system like this are many. One big one is that you have the use of Bibles that are copyrighted and therefore publishers don't lose out. Then you have the advantage of no matter what device you have, you have a reader that can get you the Bible. While that can look like a Java program for some, it might be browser based with some plugging into a program/applet/extension one installs. Then, it creates community. People not just share the Word, but share their experiences as they read the Word. Its not limited to when you get to a "big" computer and can sit and document your thoughts, but as the moment that God hits you can be "out of teh blue," so can your response in sharing it with others in your mobile (redefining the word local commnuity.
There is the aspect of this being very personal as well. Many times, people are willing to listen to one share the Gospel with them, but may not want to read in the presence of others. A mobile Bible like this gives the ability to take that Bible into one's personal area, and then let God chat some with their hearts. And then when they are ready, they can go to their online space via that mobile device, and share what it is God has done on their heart.
It's only a thought. But I get these every once and a while when here at work and wondering where MMM can go next. Honestly, I'd love for MMM to make this available. Give me the app developers, web developers, and marketing and hands down, it would be successful. And not because it takes away from what Laridian, OliveTree, PoetryPoon/Bible+ have done, but it takes what they have started and just makes a genunine push towards sharing this Gospel we know and hold to while getting us away from our homes and into the hearts and lives of those who would most benefit.
For example, I am very much moved away from using BibleGateway as a main reference when at a browser because of the ability to tag and annotate search results in eBible. I find that I many times see something understood better if I am looking for it in a particular context and eBible really does that for me (though BibleGateway by far offers more versions and commentaries than even what I can fit on my Palm). But then I look at Bible+ and it really is a cludge sometims to get where I want to get to (sure I use the shortcuts for everything, but its not intuitive). I am wondering could be done on a total mobile scale that would not just make Bible reading easier, but more accessible as well (something like a TypeRight that's half online and a Bible app too).
My thoughts flow like this
- a Bible reader in the vein of Bible+ where the reader is free, as well as the majority of the content (the latter varies per country for legal reasons)
- an ability to search content saved on one's device, but then also access content online/wirelessly (such as have a Bible locally, but in your "online personal area" have resources such as commentaries, lexicons, and additional Bibles that may not fit on one's device)
- an ability to bookmark and annotate but then share those bookmarks/notes via that "online personal area" or just keep them saved on one's device for personal use
- a mobile accessible online area where one can admin tags, join communities, and read testimonies of others who have this program and share it.
The benefits of a system like this are many. One big one is that you have the use of Bibles that are copyrighted and therefore publishers don't lose out. Then you have the advantage of no matter what device you have, you have a reader that can get you the Bible. While that can look like a Java program for some, it might be browser based with some plugging into a program/applet/extension one installs. Then, it creates community. People not just share the Word, but share their experiences as they read the Word. Its not limited to when you get to a "big" computer and can sit and document your thoughts, but as the moment that God hits you can be "out of teh blue," so can your response in sharing it with others in your mobile (redefining the word local commnuity.
There is the aspect of this being very personal as well. Many times, people are willing to listen to one share the Gospel with them, but may not want to read in the presence of others. A mobile Bible like this gives the ability to take that Bible into one's personal area, and then let God chat some with their hearts. And then when they are ready, they can go to their online space via that mobile device, and share what it is God has done on their heart.
It's only a thought. But I get these every once and a while when here at work and wondering where MMM can go next. Honestly, I'd love for MMM to make this available. Give me the app developers, web developers, and marketing and hands down, it would be successful. And not because it takes away from what Laridian, OliveTree, PoetryPoon/Bible+ have done, but it takes what they have started and just makes a genunine push towards sharing this Gospel we know and hold to while getting us away from our homes and into the hearts and lives of those who would most benefit.
posted by Antoine @ 9/22/2006 04:52:00 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Don't the eBible.com guys (Godspeed?) have eBible for PDA software too? I wonder if they would be interested in doing something like this. Or maybe they already are. I really like their Palm software and I have heard they are coming out with a suite of other PDA apps for Christians later this year. Interesting ideas Antoine, the whole half local and half online application space is interesting.
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