Feasability Questions for Bible Notes App
I've spent the better part of the last few weeks thinking about the idea of a Bible Notes application and have been drafting some ideas about how such an application can work out. However, I want to throw some questions out there as I am pretty sure that I am not considering everything when it comes to something like this. If you could be so kind as to respond to these quetsions in the comments to this post, it would be greatly appreciated - and possibly help any developers who are looking at doing something like this.
- Do you use a browser that has the ability to view/save/edit content when you are offline?
- Is tagging and searching of notes more important, as important, or less important than the notes content itself?
- How do you feel about being able to link to content from other websites easily (verses, commentaries, Wikipedia terms, etc.)? Would you prefer the application came with preset resources, or was a user-added feature?
- If you are a pastor, could you see an application like this assisting both in sermon preparation and study follow-up?
- How would you feel about using this kind of an application on a laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. during services, studies? Would you encourage the use of mobile tech if such a program is used?
These are some of my thoughts, do you have any others?
Labels: Bible, browser, commentary, community, developer, notes, resources, software, tech, web application
posted by Antoine @ 6/09/2008 10:00:00 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I think linking to other resources can be useful, but can also be a distraction from studying the Bible itself. Not sure the best way to approach that.
Yes, Safari 3.1 supports an offline database. And the Mobile Safari update for iPod touch/iPhone expected today also will.
Just wanted to point out that, from a user's standpoint as well as a developer's standpoint, "less is more". Often the key to a practical and useful app, is figuring out how to reduce it to the key ingredients and do them well...
@Nathan: I agree, links can be a distraction. But do understand, this is not a Bible reader in the vein of Logos, Olive Tree, Laridian, etc., this is a essentially a notepad that is designed specifically to take notes with. Much like when people highlight passages, or draw arrows and circles to annotate written content to point to something else, this idea is doing the same thing. Its only extending the web page methodology to something that can be useful past the "just reviewing notes" stage of things.
@BobRussell: I agree. Hence the line of questions :)
@Antoine: Gotcha.
When I was designing a Bible app, I was thinking of having different "modes." One modeled off the NISB inductive study Bible, where it's just you and the text. Create your own cross-links and things. Another "mode" to bring all the other sorts of content... from "pericopes" to commentaries to social aspects like YouVersion.
Not sure how those ideas play into the notes app you're thinking of. Are you thinking of marking up the Biblical texts, or having a separate sort of journal?
@Nathan: separate journal. No touching of the Biblical texts at all. Considering that there are a ton of Bible readers out there already, why reinvent the wheel *there.* Build a program and let a person link (bring) their own Bible reader and it becomes win-win for users and developers.
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