Mobile Ministry Magazine

I was reading about the next OLPC laptop, the XO-2, and its new form factor and it caused me to reflect a bit on the purpose of technology to empower and enable people to reach beyond the glass ceiling that social or economics presents before us.

As the Body enabled with mobile tech in its various forms, I think about a project like the OLPC Project and wonder where and if we are being as effective in terms of looking for innovative and needed (debatable term I know) solutions for empowering communities.

Another thing that the OLPC Project brings to mind is the fact that we can sometimes have an effect in a place where we originally didn't want to. The OLPC has spawned devices such as the MacBook Air and Asus Eee PC as capable laptop solutions that fit into lives instead of forcing you to fit into theirs (mostly).

I've been exposed to some very blessed people in the Body, and some wealthy ones. I wonder on both accounts if we are doing what we can to effect change for the greater good given our abilities with resource. Not to say that we all have to be a Bill and Melinda Gates, but how are we using what we have to bring Christ into a place that He hasn't been. And moreso to improve the quality of life of those around us so that preaching Christ is easier to be heard since basic needs are met.

It's just me thinking aloud. But I wanted to share this because its something that hits me pretty often. Is there really any innovation left in the Body, or are we just riding the coattails of whatever happens until Jesus returns?

Related Articles at MMM:

• The OLPC Give 1 Get 1 Challenge As A Mobile Opportunity
• Becoming More Tech Savvy Is A Necessity

Labels: Asus Eee, community, innovation, MacBook Air, mobile, OLPC, tech

Ok, so I've already blasted the fact that we don't get out enough and just commune with one another. The fact is though that there is sufficient mobile tech out to help these matters in these times. Applications such as Earthcomber and Google Maps have been around for a long time helping us get from point to point. And how Nokia Maps 2.0 joins the fray as another solid entry that gives you n excuse to be sitting still (lest you are reading MMM).

Nokia Maps 2.0

Nokia Maps 2.0 was previously a beta application in Nokia's Betalabs. It has recently been made an official release and adds several new features for those who are unaccustomed to using GPS, maps, and location-based services in their mobile device. And to those who are familiar, there are a few new wrinkles that can be explained in the terms Drive, Walk, and Discover

Drive, Walk, Discover

Drive is similar to how many use GPS devices when in automobiles. Nokia Maps 2.0 adds an improved Car Navigation component which adds PND-level car navigation experience with faster routing; an updated User Interface featuring a new navigation carousel with pre-defined navigation views such as navigation, arrow, and bird-eye views; and enhanced navigation features such as signposts and multi-stop route planner which are usually found on top-of-the-line GPS devices.

The Walk feature is designed for use when walking instead of moving quickly over terran such as in an automobile. Walk features a pedestrian navigation system which uses visual guidelines, contextual information about the surrounding areas, and in supported devices, the direction being walked. The Walk features public transit information for 17 cities with localized icons. For better performance, Walk uses advanced multi-sensor positioning using A-GPS, and pedestrian orientation using the compass feature (specifically to the Nokia 6210 Navigator device).

Discover takes advantage of the fact that there are areas to be discovered in traveling. This feature offers satellite images with hybrid rendering overlays for selected cities; a "one-box search" for places, addresses, restaurants, nightlife, outdoor, accommodation; and premium multi-media city guides including features photos, video, audio streams.

Use and Availability

Nokia Maps 2.0 uses vector-based maps provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas which cover over 200 countries and over 70 of them navigable. Maps can be downloaded over the air directly to selected devices or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC. A new beta version of the Nokia Map Loader is available on the Nokia Betalabs website.

Nokia Maps 2.0 is a free application, however some features may have trial-then-purchase limitations. Nokia Maps also uses data services in order to view and update map data. An unlimited data plan, or Wi-Fi connection is advised for use.

To download Nokia Maps 2.0 and more information, visit http://www.maps.nokia.com.

So, Get Out A Bit

Even if you do not have a Nokia device, that is no excuse to not get out a bit and see the community around you. Besides being able to interact with people, you can also find out about places to eat that you've not see and sow into local businesses. And you never know, you might end up going out and about and catch a crime in progress that you'd be able to report. (LINK HAS QUESTIONABLE AD CONTENT)

Get it? Use that mobile tech and let that faith intersect with someone :)

Labels: church, community, Earthcomber, Google Maps, Internet, maps, people, software

Here is some good news for MMM readers and those who just like technology that reaches a bit more than just out there.

I was approached by Jukka from Nokia's Mobile Web Server team (and I'm sure he's on several others), to write a guest post for Nokia's Mobile Web Server blog. The following is a snippet of the published post:

...In finishing with the MWS Experiement at Mobile Ministry Magazine, I knew for sure that moving my personal website to the MWS was something that I wanted to do. Besides the ability for complete content control, I began growing used to replacing going to MS Exchange when on a full computer to going to my moible via my MWS website. It was not just an issue of replacing a website that excited me, but replacing that entire middle man of syncing that made the MWS an attractive pursuit. However, I was not confident in my mobile device. Battery and memory concerns meant that I would have to modify usage patterns to carry a charger of some sort around often...

Read the rest of the post Replacing a Community-Reaching Website with the Mobile Web Server at the Nokia's Mobile Web Server Blog.

In addition to the post at Nokia's Mobile Web Server Blog, there is now a compiled version of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report in PDF format for your reading pleasure. This is the inital non-styled version, there will be an updated version of this PDF in the coming weeks.

Labels: Mobile Web Server, Nokia, review, software, tech

I was reading through RSS feeds when I noticed a post talking about the church's response to the rising gas prices. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't see much wrong with that posting, nor with what some churches are doing to get people to fellowship in the mist of this. I just wonder if there is a solution towards things that we've kind of missed a bit.

After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:1-3 KJV)

There are a few ways to look at a crisis such as this. Either we have to continue in the ways that we are used to, and make every effort to continue what we know. Or, we take the situation as a chance to do something different and effect change differently.

What I have seen (in the USA) has been much more of the former and not enough of the latter. Innovation in these times looks like carpooling, cell groups replacing Sunday services except for once a month, and localized community outreach. There is more than enough ability with the Internet and communication technologies to fill in the gaps until the crisis is no more, or if it is more, we are effectively going out into our communities and becoming an agent of Christ, changing an apparent crisis into an opportunity.

Think about it like this: you have an opportunity to drive less, walk more, and team up with believers in your immediate vicinity for the sake of demonstrating Christ. Do you really need to continue driving 20 miles to church instead of literally being His sheep amongst the wolves that also appear in a time of crisis?

Labels: church, community, Internet, tech

One of the things I like about a new endeavor that I am in is that it forces me to think though a lot of the decisions that I make. Not that I had not before, but it forces me to actually see how a plan is being developed so that the problem is addressed, and the expected results are left with as few unattended surprises as possible.

I read an article at Mobile Opportunity talking about technology strategy and what this meant in the mobile realm. Here are his points (in brief):

• An elegant business model paired with mediocre technology beats an elegant technology paired with a mediocre business model.
• Design for a need, not a desire.
• Software designed for one platform usually fails on another.

Of course, these points are pointing at developers, marketers, and analysts. It makes sense though to view these in the lens of our place in the Body and in these times. We are doing something that hasn't been done before, and that brings questions of whether it is really right, or if it is just something to do different.

So the question I ask myself, and I want to put out there to you is to think about your technology strategy.

• Are you modeling your technology use/adoption after Jesus, or is Jesus modeling your technology use/adoption?
• Does what you use most fit a need or desire? Does what you use least fit a need or desire?
• Are you trying to fit technology in a place where it doesn't fit?

Think about these three points when it comes to technology and how it intersects with your faith and just investigate if you are hitting on areas of need with this, or just spinning wheels.

We will (hopefully) come back in a future article to talk about the "how-to" parts of these three points so that you can have a better basis towards being an innovator, yet still being led by the Spirit of God to share the Gospel.

Labels: community, tech

The unofficial start to the summer (in the US) is Memorial Day. Besides the sales and the barbecues, we remember those who laid down their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.

My father was one who served (Navy) and while I didn't know the extent of his service, I am very honored to have someone as close to my freedoms as I do.

In getting out and about this weekend, please be sure to take some time to pray for those serving now, as well as those whom have served. Enjoying the ability to connect with an entire world of people is not something to be taken lightly.

To those who have and are serving, thank you for your time, patience with us and our governments, and your dedication.

Labels: community

While it is great to have a mobile Bible, or at least an electronic one that you can read or study from nearly anyplace. There are some accessories that make using those electronic Bibles a lot easier to deal with. Here are 5 mobile Bible accessories that you should not be caught without:

• Word Processor/Notes Application
  Recommendations: MemoPad (PalmOS), Notes (Windows Mobile, Internet Tablet), MS Word/Google Desktop (laptop, desktop)
• USB key/memory card
  Recommendations: several options, but the general rule is to find the largest size that you can afford, and then go for the next size up via a website like NewEgg or Buy.com. Deals and prices means that space to store and backup information can easily attained.
• Case/laptop bag
  Recommendations: You will want to stuff only so much in your pockets/hands. A nice case will not just keep your hands free, but also protect your devices. In the case of laptops, make sure to find one rated with high shock protection. NotebookReview.com has several models of laptop cases they have reviewed.
• Print Bible
  Recommendations: one small enough to fit in the glove compartment of your car, or a small pocket in your laptop bag for you never know when that power might go out and you want to continue reading.
• Prayer
  Recommendations: seriously, you cannot do anything without this accessory. Get it in when reading, studying, or just out and about (Ephesians 6:18)

What are some of the things you would consider an important accessory to have with your mobile toolkit?

Labels: Bible, desktop, Hardware, Laptop, mobile accessories, mobility, prayer, software, tech

A bit late on mentioning this, but it should still hopefully catch you in a good mood. Laridian has released PocketBible 4. This is a major update to the PocketBible franchise and includes several improvements in performance and user interface and a host of new features. Here's a rundown on what's new:

• Open multiple windows/books then maximize any window for full screen reading.
• Flick Gestures while Maximized
• Auto-Scroll Reading
• View a verse in all Bibles.
• Enhanced Searching (with last 20 searches saved)
• Customizable Toolbars
• Save/Restore Layouts
• Synchronize Notes, Bookmarks and Highlights with PocketBible for Windows (sold separately) /li>

In addition, there are a few news features for Windows Mobile 6 Standard (non-touchscreen) users such as the ability to view Commentaries, Dictionaries, Devotionals, and other titles; create and edit notes/highlighting; and synchronize Notes, Bookmarks and Highlights with PocketBible for Windows (sold separately).

How to Get PocketBible 4

Quoting this from the Laridian website:

PocketBible 3 owners can upgrade to PocketBible 4 for a limited time for only $7. Check your email for a special offer from Laridian. When placing your order enter the priority code from the email to receive 30% off PocketBible 4, plus 20% off of any additional Bibles or books you order at the same time.

PocketBible 4 is available via several bundles from Laridian. Since you need to have some Bibles and other resources in order to use it, this would a good thing to take advantage of. See this page for a list of Bibles and bundles for use with PocketBible 4.

PocketBible 4 Review

Ed Hansberry has been a popular user and reviewer for PocketBible in the past and has already done a full and detailed review of the new PocketBible 4 application. Here is a snippet:

...There are other nice features like the ability to save and restore preferred layouts if you have different screen layout preferences for reading versus studying, etc. The Find feature has also been beefed up a bit including a "NEAR" search term, allowing you to find two words within so many versus of each other. For example, if the Near setting is at 3, searching for Moses NEAR Aaron will yield 409 results. This new search parameter can be combined with the existing AND, OR, XOR and NOT to make some pretty complex searches. The NEAR term only works in bibles, not other books...

Read the rest of Ed Hansberry's PocketBible 4 Review.

There's Already Been An Update

And if that isn't enough, Laridian has already released an update to PocketBible 4. This update just fixes some issues with syncing highlights and restoring history from a previous session. More details on this update are stated on the Laridian Blog.

So...

We've already recommended Laridian's PocketBible software as a sold investment for your mobile reading needs. Just jump on over to Laridian's website and see for yourself. There's a trial version available, but I can say that many of you will be very convinced that it would be worth the purchase.

Labels: annotating, Bible, Laridian, mobile, reading, review, software, updates

One of the questions that I get asked often is "what electronic Bible is best for [my device]?" Truth be told, there are plenty, but some offer more bang for the buck than others in various areas. Here is a list of 5 electronic Bibles that I like for their cost, versatility, reach, or intangibles:

• Palm Bible+ (Palm OS only)
  Reasons: free, tons of Bible versions in several languages; open source
• Laridian (Palm OS, Windows Mobile, iPod/iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows desktop)
  Reasons: nearly every computing platform is covered; excellent online solution with iPocketBible, responsive customer service, tons of auxiliary resource content
• YouVersion (browser-based)
  Reasons: excellent community interaction features, private and shared journaling; active development; very diverse user-base
• WordSearch 8 (Windows desktop, Windows Mobile and Palm OS via 3rd party application)
  Reasons: directed towards beginner and advanced Bible students; (mostly) user-friendly interface; excellent note taking feature; not nearly as expensive as its best competitor
• MoBible (any mobile device that can view WAP pages - all of them)
  Reasons: flexibility for use on any mobile phone; several languages; accompanying devotional; doesn't require the user to download anything

What are some of the electronic Bibles that work best for you?

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, desktop, Laptop, mobile, mobility, smarpthone, software, usability

What I've enjoyed about MMM has been the ability to get out and speak with many people about the place of mobile technology. I think it is good to hear about and share what works, what doesn't, and what is possible (within reason).

However, there are those times when in speaking with people that I am no so much struck about what they do with mobile tech, but about what they do without it. For example, there are some people I know who will still only read news from a newspaper, even though what they are reading as already been told, reedited, republished, and commented on in several venues before it hits their hands from the newsstands. For these people, its the fact that the immediacy of mobile and Internet technology is in it that is attractive to them - not that they don't want to know.

I sort of see this mentality in some of the fellowships that I am in. Mobile devices, smartphones specifically, are seen as immediate communications devices. If you will, the information is meant to be short and consumed quickly. But when discussed in the context of Bibles and religion, the subject's depth seems to place mobiles out of the equation for many. This is ok, but I am one who wants to understand this a bit more, so I just ask:

Why do you think mobile technology (smartphones, laptops, electronic Bible software, etc.) is a precarious area for some people?

Labels: Bible, tech

When I was younger, my parents resorted (many times) to taking away things that I enjoyed so that I would get the point that I had to wise up in areas. These days, taking away things from youth includes mobile devices such as iPods and mobile phones. One parent of a teen that I regularly interact with mentioned that because of school issues with his son, he had to take away much of the mobile technology that the teen used. While this left the teen disconnected, it did get the point to him that connecting to friends is not as important as connecting to schoolwork.

As parents of an increasingly digital generation, there are similar responses that should be taken when the need warrants. Nothing should come before God, family, and education when it comes to you. But many times, the world within mobile devices can do just that.

How do Christians respond to this as a family and as a community? What steps have you found that work for you, and what doesn't work?

Bonus discussion question: what are the downfalls of taking away that connectivity from the child, and how does a parent create an environment where taking away that aspect of connectivity does not take away the ability to be productive?

Labels: community, devices, mobility, parenting, software, tech

As I sat in a coffeeshop today, I noticed a guy that I had seen a few times before with his Bible out. But that was not the part that got me thinking. In addition to having his Bible out, he was typing notes in MS Word, and using another program to look up commentary information.

Looking at him interact with that setup for a bit it hit me that while there is this studying that we have to do; many facets of mobile technology allow us to do this in different ways. This person used a combination of a print Bible, word processor, and online information. What are some of the combination that you use when studying the Bible? And do you have a journal/Word document where you keep track of what you do?

Labels: Bible, Laptop, software, study, tech

Greetings all; hope that the weekend is treating all of you well, and that you are finding rest in fellowship in plenty. To those of you with working weekends, I pray that you've had a suitable amount of sleep, prayer, and prep time, and that you are ready for the work at hand.

It's with this greeting that I find myself also addressing a change in schedule. Another item added to my plate means that writing and investigating the ends of mobility and ministry has to happen in a shorter time-frame. Its my hope that this means for better and more quality posts from my side, but also that I can use mobile tech as a facilitator towards more discussions.

I'll actually be mobile even more now. And this means that I'm looking even more to streamline my hardware, and adjust to using it more than I have. I might have to invest in a much larger memory card as well - though I'd rather it be in a new mobile so that I can push the ends of serving you a bit further. Its a new challenge, but something that will make for a better community. Yes, I am being deliberately mum on the details, this happens to be something personal that I'd rather its evidence be the fruit of things.

So with that being said, I invite you to continue reading, continue challenging opinion, but not Christ when you see things here. A new schedule for me means that more can be sown in here. So stick around, grab a mobile device, and let's continue to engage the world around us.

Labels: community

There have been a few items sitting starred in Google Reader that I've been meaning to post. Sharing some of those, and hopig to spark something that will get you and I to think a bit more as the week goes on the place of mobile and tech in faith.

• ESV and NJKV for MS One Note (Bible Studies nad Technological Tools)
• When Should Parents Purchase a Mobile for their Children (Just Another Mobile Phone Blog)
• Research and Note Taking Tools, and the follow-up article Bonus Items for Research and Note Taking (Bible Studies and Technological Tools)
• Mission Field Money Crisis (Chruch Relevance, Charlotte Observer)
• Blogging Ministries (Church Communications Pro)

Got any news that would be of value to the Mobile Ministry Magazine community? Use our Contact page to send it to us.

Labels: annotating, Bible, church, device, education, mission, reading, review, software

This is what happens when I sit down and begin to think a bit more about how a Bible Study Notes application can/should work. Feel free to offer your opinions, and if you are a developer, think of this as a project analysis of what I've been thinking about.

Bible Notes App/Web App

Short Description Note taking application for mobile devices, internet tablets, etc. that uses a plug-in based architecture to connect to local and online resources.

Why and Who: The reason for this program is so that casual Bible readers, students, and sermon attendees can take notes in a format that follows alongside their natural ability to take notes in a notebook whether they use a digital or print bible.

Goals

• Create notes that extend beyond the context of one particular reading to the various points of information that exist online and/or on the user's device
• Create a point of intersecting the APIs of several Bible programs, formats, and sources so that the user has choice in how to use the resources available
• To encourage the development of plugins for commercial and non-commercial resources so as to not to slight the publishing industry's licensing rights for resource materials
• To address the semantics behind studying, by putting to work the semantics of the web

What Does This Program Look Like:

• Start with the Notes Application on Nokia Internet Tablets
  • Addition of a button that adds functionality
  • Finger typing friendly
  • PDF, HTML, and XML export
  • Upload to Google Docs (download then reupload possible?)
• Title/Initial Actions Screen
  • Create, (3-5) Recent Notes, Delete, Manage Plugins, About
• Notes
  • single screen
  • bottom bar with Bold, Italic, Underline, Color Selector, Bullets, Link (Plugin), Save, Save/Upload

Limitations

• Simple formatting options
• Initially no ability to draw on screen or insert images
• If a web application, needs a server; would be better as a web application that can be launched from a bookmark in an offline mode then save when connected

Workflow

• Two screens: title/actions and notes
• Dialog boxes to confirm actions such as 'link to resource' and 'saved to local/web'

Document Structure

• XHTML
• In page CSS (initially no custom styles for users)
• BibleRef Tagger
• Semantic Bible

Program Structure

• Language: unknown, depends on native or web app
• MySQL on local machine for indexing tags and references
• UI based on writing first, tagging second
• Will NOT tie into any Bible reader program directly, plugins only

Plugins

• Must use API defined by source resource to access content
• search plugins will only pass information via a search string and open in local client's browser
• Plugins that point to local apps should be done with the GPL for user/developer customization
• Plugins that point to licensed material need to be checked for possible licensing issues
• Can plugin point to native app
• Plugin to add ability to highlight, draw on page instead of build into app (possibility)

Plugin Limitations

• Cannot create content
• Cannot pull in content from websites applications to paste into document (later functionality possibility)

This is somewhat detailed, but gives a clear idea of what I was speaking about in Sunday's post. What are your thoughts? Place them here, and let's get a push to make an application that will have some far reaching effects.

Labels: annotating, Bible, mobility, notes, software, study, tech, web application

I traditionally like to submit MMM to the Carnival of the Mobilists because of the unique perspective on mobile technology that is not always explored in the realm of mobile professionals. In following a link from Digital Sanctuary, I came to the website The Kingdom 2.0 which made note of another carnival, the Christian Technology and Media Carnival, to which MMM should be making semi-frequent, future appearances as well.

However, it will be a bit before MMM is included into the next Christian Technology and Media Carnival, so do take a read of The Kingdom 2.0 posting of the First Edition of this carnival. Several articles on the use of media and the Internet in the Body, and some great thoughts on the worldwide perspective of such endeavors.

To those accustomed to reading the Carnival of the Mobilists, #122 at Xellular Identity is the latest published.

Update/Correction: Apologies, the latest Carnival of the Mobilists is #123 at GoMo News.

If you are reading the Christian Technology and Media Carnival and would like to submit an article you have written on your blog, visit the Blog Carnival Submission Form in order to fill out the requisite information.

Labels: Carnival of the Mobilists, Christian Technology and Media Carnival, media, mobility, tech

I am sitting here thinking about my upcoming schedule of things to do and realize that it would be very nice to have a better Bible application (or web application that works offline) that would just facilitate leading and attending Bible studies or listening to sermons.

If you will, I don't need something that would be a Bible reader that then does notes. I am thinking more along the lines of a notepad application that automatically links to a Bible (on the device or not), in addition to other resources.

Something where I could create a document, and it would just be an HTML document. I could add tags to it (so that its easily searchable); and it would upload to places like Google Docs so that it can be shared with others. But then again, it wouldn't have to do that so much.

The idea of automatically linking to resources though is the fun part. For example, if I write a note, I want to be able to highlight either the verse notation written, or a keyword, and then be able to select what resource that it should be pointing to. That resource would basically be the search page for that Bible/commentary/lexicon/Wikipedia/etc. website and instantly give some depth to my notes. Imagine even linking to a city and having Google Maps, or whomever is doing a Google Maps-like ancient Bible maps mash up, link to it automatically.

I think something like this would be ideal as a web application because it is something that I would want for a mobile device (most likely my N800 Internet Tablet, but also my mobile phone). The ideal thing would be for this to work offline without having to be connected first (an issue with many web applications). But I could see something like this coming in just as much, if not more in handy than having a Bible reader, and then asking for the other features to be plugged into it.

Side note: If someone is willing to build this kind of an application, either a web app or something for a dedicated mobile device; I would be glad to help test (sorry, not a app developer) and when it is done promote the application here at MMM.

Related Articles:

• Semantic Bible
• Crosswire Bible Society's SWORD Project

Labels: Bible, mobiles, sermon, software, study, tech, web application

Another use for the Mobile Web Server that occurred to me this morning was to be able to use it to edit and add information on my mobile device without having to fiddle with a number pad or small screen. For the most part, sync conduits and integration into services with applications like GooSync already handle this. But if the mobile device can play the role of being the server already, you can get rid of the middle man and just log into your phone from any larger screened web terminal and then add/edit information much easier.

Thinking about it like this makes the MWS seem a lot more versatile than just a means to have information. There is an empowerment about it that is only limited to the imagination of the user.

For example, a person could be a developer and design an entire website and interface for their projects using the MWS. A teacher could design class modules and then using groups allow for students to log in. Taking that a step further, that teacher could have a test that will only be up while the MWS is online; taking it down means that whomever didn't finish their test on time could be easily noted just from looking at the logs.

I write this to say that I know that its a bit unconventional, and uneconomical in a lot of respects, to think about connectivity in this granular of a fashion. But we have to look at this mobile tech as a means to an end. Taking out some of those in-between points might very well be a means to helping to realize this, and the fruits of the thins past generations constantly dreamed about.

I believe you have to be willing to be misunderstood if you're going to innovate. That's actually a serious point. If you're going to do something that's never been done before - which is basically what innovation is - people are going to misunderstand it just because it's new.

Jeff Bezos, one of the founders of Amazon; quote via Tony Morgan Live

This post was written before the third installment of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report was written. Some of the information in this post is repeated in that report, but not in the detail that it is presented here.

Labels: Mobile Web Server, mobility, software

Welcome to the third and final installment of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report. In Part One, we talked about the general setup and the reasons for doing this experiment. In Part Two, we spoke on the day to day use of it; and then started talking about why its not yet an accessible solution, but it is a versatile one. In Part Three, we talk more about what is possible with the Mobile Web Server and come to some conclusions towards its potential use.

You see, for most end and power-users of mobile devices, the Mobile Web Server is not yet a solution. There are a few too many niggles with it before it can become a solution. What it is however is a canvas, a very empty canvas. When one wants to think of what is possible with mobility, this section of the report hits on that. And specifically for the Christian church, what we do with technology will go a long way towards making divisions along digital lines a thing of the past. Innovation requires that we think outside of the box before we jump into a new one. By the end of this report, I hope that you can not just see why doing the MMM Mobile Experiment was a paradigm shift for me; but also where and why Nokia sees this as a profitable endeavor.

This section of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report contains:

• Lessons Learned
• Current and Future Applications
• Why This Is A Model for the [Digital] Church
• Appendix/Additions

Lessons Learned

At this point, the MMM Mobile Experiment seemed to be a solid idea that is just a bit further than where people want to go with interacting with websites and at the same time, its not far enough in terms of how organizations and ministry can reach out to one another. What I saw in the first few days was that in order to get people to come to MMM Mobile, I had to be proactive about advertising and up front about limitations such as loading speed and the log-in issue. After getting used to it from a lifestyle perspective, I had to come to grips with the ability of attainable technology not being up to snuff with the demands of a web server being backed up by a social network. The frame work is there, but there is a gap before this can be applicable on a broad scale.

I did learn some things that were quite positive, and gives me hope that maybe the Body is better equipped to use near-solutions in effective ways. For example, in talking to my pastors about the MMM Mobile Experiment while it was going on, they had a genuine interest in how it would pan out and how it could be relevant to them. One of the smaller experiments was to live-blog during one of the sermons and then forward them the link to get their thoughts. Live-blogging the sermon on a mobile phone brought stares from people unaware of what I was doing, despite knowing my technical bent. Getting my pastors to be able to log in without issues became a problem because I did not noticed the case-sensitive issue for logging in under the guest account. And even during the sermon, I was not prepared for the out of memory error that running the browser and mobile web server would cause, preventing users from even accessing the site. it was advantageous to try, but in light of things, could have been better planned out.

Other parts that proved positive were in just the evangelism of mobile devices and the Internet as being tools of connectivity. I found that with the MWS active that I had more time to spend on mobile devices, thereby getting me in places where I could engage people and allow various aspects of using mobile technology open the door for conversations. In one instance, interacting with a child in a coffeeshop was made more fun when I took his picture via the Web Camera feature and then showed it to him and his parents from the screen of my N800 Internet Tablet. This showed to them that technology has a way to touching us even more than we think without having to have a Star Trek moment.

Current and Future Applications

Having done this experiment, it is easy to say that it can be used. However relevance for the mobile web server has its place in only a few areas, mainly because of the hardware and connection requirements that would necessitate more affluence than the market can share at this time.

In terms of a software platform, having a web server on a mobile phone can present the opportunity to remove a few middle layers of device management and information management software that has been slow to catch on in some areas. Normally, we think of this as syncing, backup, and personal information management (PIM) software; the structure of this mobile web server platform offers a few aspects of use that previously were harder to get newer users to adopt:

• If the smartphone is online (cellular broadband or Wi-Fi) accessing it though an IP address or domain name assigned to the device (or SIM card) give the opportunity to do things such as add and remove applications, connect contacts to social networks, backup contacts to an offline storage area, or even lock down the device in case of theft;
• If the device is not online, these same tasks can be done through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi ad-hoc network where all that a person needs is a browser with a larger screen in order to extend the functionality of their device;
• Adding an email component would essentially make the MWS platform a replacement (on the consumer level) or products like MS Exchange as the device is the server and there is nothing that needs to be additionally added to the device.

This is thinking about the mobile web server as it can have present relevance in the way that people want to get the most of their devices. For this to work best however, unlimited data plans, and seamless connectivity needs to be the norm and not the exception. Also, quality of service in terms of mobile operating systems, cellular lines, and even user experience will play a larger part in letting this connectivity option be the norm rather than the exception for mobile computing.

Taking things a bit further, the mobile web server has the ability to innovate in small business and organizational communications by:

• Intranet for a low-funded ministry or non-profit organization
• Website for a traveling missionary who travels in well connected areas and has has the funds to connect frequently enough to make this viable
• Future: platform for sharing documents and calendars as a family point of contact system
• Multi-campus connector for small groups spread over a large area

This is not to say that there are not other applications; only that in using the Mobile Web Server, I spoke with and engaged with organizations where the relevance of a mobile device that can handle these connections made for opportunities to remove buildings, excess tools, and in some cases a learning curve, therefore making more time for the connections that a web server and interpersonal communication allows to happen.

Why This Is A Model for the [Digital] Church

I was asked very bluntly at the conclusion of my experiment why I felt that this was a model for computing that the Body should be receptive to. I was given the reasons about economics, device availability, and even preconceptions that a mobile device should only be used for talking. My reason for thinking and believing that the mobile web server in various forms is a suitable means to enable the digital church is simply that it is something that has not been done before. Its new ground, and puts the Body at the place of pioneering and setting the bar in terms of what is possible with communication technologies.

I do not say this to mean that there are not other organizations that would not benefit from what has been written here, but to say that because the church has a mission to connect and empower people, it should take what is available and not duplicate solutions, but create them.

The book of Acts is an account of a sledging church finding its legs after Jesus left the scene. He deposited within them the Holy Spirit to empower and equip them with the innate ability to go to the ends of the earth and be a representative of Him and carry the Gospel's message of a redeeming and justified love. Since taking the plunge with Nokia's Mobile Web Server, I can see how that would not just be a radical idea, but an attainable one. The question is, are we innovative enough to capitalize on what has already been deposited in us to do since Acts.

Appendix/Additions

Labels: community, education, email, gospel, mobile accessories, Mobile Web Server, mobility, Nokia, phone, software, tech, usability

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. (Genesis 1:27-28 AMP)

One of the reasons that I have gone mobile is because I better understand that while the ability to be connected is good for the Body, the ability to use devices and services that better utilize the limited resources of this planet means that other generations will also be able to enjoy such inventiveness.

Something that many do not think about when they use computers, build offices, or even get in their cars to travel to this and that event is that there is a considerable impact on the earth around us that can be minimized when we start looking at the excess and start working to trim things.

It could be as simple as instead of having a church office that the church starts to use a mobile office where the office is actually a data center that is exercising environmentally mindful policies and then the staff members are working from home where they can be a more integral part of their local communities. Trading paper bulletins for SMS alerts might seem like a struggle for some members, but the saving of paper means that the administration staff can spend less time at FedEx and the church can spend those funds on enabling more members to stay connect whether they can make it to a service or the service come to them.

Now, we might not get immediately to the place where we are using phones made from biodegradable materials, but looking at the simple command at the beginning of creation to steward this earth, we can definitely do more than we do.

Has your church or organization started any policies to minimize the environmental impact of doing the work of ministry?

Related Articles:

• Review of the Nokia 3110 Eco-Friendly mobile (Smart Planet)
• Designing for Sustainability (Nokia Conversations)
• What if we all changed our chargers? (Nokia Conversations)
• Solio Solar Charging Solutions
• Working flexibly is paving the way for a more sustainable future (MOOF.mobi)
• Creating a Manifesto for Sustainable Life... (Tim Samoff)

Disclosure: Inner-Linked provides consulting services for those individuals and ministries who are looking to trim their environmental footprint while adding innovation and accessibility to their ministry endeavors.

Labels: 3110 Evolve, community, environment, Inner-Linked, Nokia, stewardship, sustainability, tech, usablity

Web Worker Daily recently posted an article titled 5 Essentials for the Mobile Web Worker where they looked at 5 pieces of hardware and software that would be essential for the mobile web worker. Here are some of mine:

• Removable memory card with backup of data
• Solio solar portable battery charger
• Bluetooth external keyboard

Given that my setup is based on a smartphone and Internet Tablet it might be different than yours. Seeing that many pastors are moving towards a similar type of setup - laptop computer, Wi-Fi- hotspot, and online applications - what are your essential tools?

Bonus: And what things do you have in place when those tools aren't working due to environment/finances/etc.?

Labels: Hardware, mobile, mobile accessories, mobility, N75, N800, software, tech

I write this a good bit before writing Part Three of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report but this is a great article posted at the Biblical Studies and Technological Tools blog about thinking about what technology and faith will look like given what we have seen happen in other media and lifestyles in the Western church.

Without going too far into things on my end, here is a snippet of this great thought-piece:

I am also wondering, then, if we might actually become more dependent on private resources/devices rather than network resources. I.e., it will be lots easier to secure a personal device not connected to any network, and I will be more confident in working with guaranteed secure resources not based on the network. This does mean that I believe that someone will still be developing and providing technological resources for biblical studies, but I also suspect that the choices will be greatly reduced. We are already seeing the convergence of best features of the various Bible programs, and as this trend continues, the only differentiating factor will be cost. I just hope we aren't all buying Wal-Mart or Google Bible software after they buy up every other current company in this field

Read the rest of the post The Future of Bible Studies and Technological Tools.

Related Articles:

• New King James with Microsoft OneNote (Palmsolo)

Labels: Bible, church, community, education, gospel, mission, mobile, mobility, networking, phone, purchasing, software, stewardship, study, tech, urban, worship

One of the things that I most enjoyed about using the Mobile Web Server was the ability to live-blog sermons and Bible studies. For the most part, this was conducted on my N75 using T9 for inputting text. Because of some hardware and performance aspects, I did have to keep mindful though of how fast I would swap between saving the blog posting and updating it. This meant for shorter notes, but gave me a chance to listen and make sure that I got in the most important points.

I'd like to share the last set of live blogged sermon notes with the MMM community. As we often talk about using technology in innovative ways, I want to make sure that I open to you some means of looking inside of how I am working around the mobile tech of today to address what will be questions for later (the next post will talk about this a bit more).

Here's the important information.

• Link to the May 4th Sermon on Acts 13:42-52 at MMM Mobile
• Login with the username Guest and the password mmmguest (both username and password are case sensitive)
• And just in case my device is down for some reason, a link to the discussion thread at the MMM Jaiku Channel.

Labels: Bible, community, N75, Nokia, sermon, software

This is the meat of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report, and also where it makes the transition from being just a review of software and online services to one of looking beyond the offering to the ability that it lends. Here's an outline of what is covered in this, Part Two, of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report:

• Additional Setup Items
• Day to Day Use
• Immediate Challenges
• Accessibility versus Versatility

Given the length of this, section of the report, it will be an extra day before publishing the third and final section. This report will also be made available as a singular download (debating on the format of that now). Enjoy Part Two, and please do not hesitate to give any comments to this or Part One.

Part Two:

Having set up the Mobile Web Server application on my device, and creating the Mobile Web Server website, I had to set up some initial pages so that in coming to the site, Mobile Ministry Magazine readers would be greeting with more than just a blank page. There are two parts to setting things up for day to day use; one part is on the mobile device and the other is through a browser (that can be on the mobile device or not; but most might choose not to go that route and just use a separate computer).

Setup on the Mobile Device

On the mobile device, one navigates to the Web Server application and is presented with a series of screens. First, you are asked to insert your user name and password that was set up on the MWS website. There are a few easy to figure out section of the application that is always shown when it is opened from here: Users, Status Message, Statistics, Access Log, Folders, and Settings.

The Users section was probably the one that I spent the most time with initially. There is a default Guest account where one can set Guest access to the MWS; and then from contacts in one's address book, you can set specific users to have ability with a user name based on their name in your address book and a password that you have set for them. I quickly abandoned doing this for a lot of people and just settled on making sure that I had a user group for my family to special sections of the MWS site, and everyone else just got the Guest account.

Truth be told, I spent a lot of time looking at the Access Log. I wanted to see how many people were hitting the site, and it was kind of neat the first few days of the experiment. We averaged about 10 unique users per day and for the most part people did not have issues with logging in (user names are case-sensitive; found that out halfway through the project).

Setup through the Web Browser

There is a setup wizard that one has to access from a device that has a suitable web browser while the mobile web server (MWS) is running. On my end, I used my Nokia N800 Internet Tablet connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot at a local coffeehouse while the MWS was running on my N75.

Two parts of this allow you to set up things like the welcome screen, offline page and message, and get a badge that can be displayed on several websites. After this wizard, there is a control panel that keeps the latter items, and allows for presence updates on the status page. One can change the theme to several types; however they are nothing more than color and banner changes. Unless you want to dig in the mobile device and play, there is no way to create custom layouts or fiddle with the CSS for more customization.

From the web browser one is able to set all types of options and create content and points of contact.

• Home
• Blog
• Camera
• Gallery
• Guestbook
• Contact Me
• Presence
• Web Chat
• Calendar
• Messaging
• Phone Log
• Contacts

By default, guests only see the Home, Blog, Presence, and Contact Me sections. The Gallery has to be setup to either show (share) pictures that are shared from the phone's internal memory, memory card, or both. I found that the Guestbook was a bit of a redundant feature, but it could prove beneficial in some applications. The Web Chat section is interesting as when someone starts a web chat, there is notification on the mobile device of the chat and then an IM-like interface is given. From there chat happens just as it would in any other chat room. The Calendar, Phone Log, and Contacts are pulled right from the mobile device and gives a browser-accessible means to see and edit content. I liked this feature, but wished that there was more granularities so that some users could see "Busy" instead of the specific event. Presence tells the state of the mobile phone such as how long it has been idle, battery life, and a status message. And finally Messaging allows one to send an email or SMS message directly to you as well as see all the SMS and MMS messages that are stored on your mobile device (Inbox and those sent).

One neat feature that is present throughout is the fact that all contacts that appear in various applications such as Calendar and Messaging are linked to their contact card. This contact card shows the last call as well as links to the address book entry. Simple, but really neat.

From registration to setting up the welcome page and basic access rights it took about 30 minutes to get rolling. After that it was just a matter of running the MWS on my device and engaging with people as they visited MMM Mobile.

Day to Day Use

The Mobile Web Server is pretty much a set it and forget it type of application. I let it run most of the day, taking it down in the AM in order to use my mobile device as a modem for my Internet Tablet and desktop. During this time, I updated the status message to point visitors to the MMM Jaiku channel. In pointing people to the MMM Jaiku channel, it was my hope to engage the usual readers of MMM, and the new visitors of the breadth of content related to Mobile Ministry Magazine, as well as engage in some discussions across a social network in a slightly different function than what is normally done in blog-driven websites.

On the downside of the day to day use, the MWS was an inconvenience in terms of the other connectivity that I aspire to have on my mobile device. Usually, I run the Emoze email client and the Jaiku Mobile client. Because of the MWS, I was not able to run these and have a long functioning device. Either the MWS would take over the connections, or the applications would consume too much memory and cause one or all of them to shut down. During the experiment, I only suffered one total device crash, but this was an instance where the hardware specifications of my N75 (which has about 15MB of memory free for running programs at boot) was at the very bottom of what is needed to run the MWS.

Because of this limitation, I was not able to use programs such as widgets to keep me abreast of what was going on at the MWS without opening the application. That being said, it was quite nice to have the server running and not have to think about it unless I needed some kind of functionality that was a bit more than normal.

A small note: the Nokia N75 is a 3G phone, meaning that it has the ability to use a high speed data network called HSDPA. Because of the specifications of this network, the device is able to use applications that connect to the Internet at the same time as using voice functions. While running the MWS, there was no drop off in voice quality or phone functions except for occasional slowness for MMS message processing.

Immediate Challenges

While there were those hardware challenges, the large and more pertinent challenges to using the MWS was trying to keep the same kind of communicative presence that had been done at Mobile Ministry Magazine. Essentially, opportunities to post to the blog, upload pictures, and engage the reading community were all things that seemed a lot easier when connectivity was spread across devices instead of being centered on one device.

For example, whenever I needed to use the web browser on the N75, I had to shut down the MWS because the two applications were too large to run at the same time. This meant that I would have to create a status message saying that the server was down and point people to the MMM Jaiku channel; then initiate a discussion at the MMM Jaiku channel; and then I would be able to continue with using the web browser. Certainly, having a device with later hardware (more memory and processor speed) would have been great here.

Another issue that I found was that in order to publish to the blog, I needed some type of dual connection. Using the MWS made situations of traveling to WI-Fi hotspots a bit of an adventure as now instead of using them just as a rest place, I wanted to be strategic in making sure that I could create a conversation piece around the use of the technology. It was not until later in the experiment that I realized that there would be times that I would be able to use the web browser on the N75 in order to populate the blog. This stretched the mobile device, but creating a blog post where I was able to live blog a sermon and have my notes created on the N75 instantly appear online was quite exciting (mental note: taking a T9 typing class before doing this should be a prerequisite).

Accessibility versus Versatility

This challenge of balancing multiple devices, multiple input methods, and then just the plan fact that a web server can really go with you anytime makes one feel more accessible than ever. The granular level of being able to assign contacts or groups of contacts to various parts of one's mobile device presents a solution that is present already in some enterprise applications such as SharePoint and even commercial ones like Movable Type. But those are PC-focused solutions. Nothing wrong with that, but as mobile devices become more versatile, one should not just assume, but see that a lot more of what we do can be driven from a mobile platform.

The Mobile Web Server is an answer to a question that is not yet asked so loudly yet though. Its not so much an issue of how does one stay accessible, as many connected devices open to you; but it allows you to determine how you want people to connect to you based on the social network that you have built - your phone book. This is more powerful and empowering when combined with a communications strategy and a personality that invites people to want to connect to you. That being said, its not accessibility that is the focus of using the MWS, its versatility. Versatility meaning that you are empowered to