Mobile Ministry Magazine

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 take your social network with you, and how they connect to you is determined by you, not by the service that you subscribe to.

This is if you where using the software and service makes a change from being just a piece of software or just another online service. It would be easy to just put the MWS into one of those categories and then judge it based on its benchmarks; but there is nothing to just it against. Nokia's Mobile Web Server is a canvas that if given the network and the hardware (and economies) becomes a canvas that enable the kind of personal computing that was dreamed about in the 1950s when the foundations of the Internet began, and now realized with the fast and (nearly) open wireless networks that most of the world has access to.

Flash Sideshow of MWS Screens, via Share on Ovi

Labels: accessiblity, browser, community, device, internet tablet, Jaiku, mobile, Mobile Web Server, mobiles, mobility, N75, Nokia, review, SMS, software, tech, usablity

I was just at the car wash thinking about my slate for the rest of today and had the reflection that mobile technology has done an interesting job in teaching me about evangelism - from a mobile tech standpoint, but just as much if not more so from a spiritual one.

Mobile Lessons

When sitting in a coffeeshop with an Internet Tablet, Bluetooth keyboard, and mobile phone out, one should expect people to ask questions. What I didn't expect was that people would ask questions and just have comments about so many things. Some people wanted to know about iPhones and phone plans, others wanted to know how my setup worked and if it could work for them. And still others just took my "open platform" as a means to just have a conversation.

In terms of what mobile is, things are still new and people are still looking for a definition that fits how they are mobile, connected and productive. Being a person who is using tools and services so out in the open, I am getting a chance to see exactly how people respond, and if need be, point them to a solution that would work best for them.

Spiritual Lessons

The greater lessons for me have come on the spiritual side of things. Where some people can separate their tech from their spirit, I happen to have a very tight relationship between the two. It was the idea of having multiple Bibles on my PDA that allowed me to minister to various friends and students on my college campus without carrying the intimidation of a large book bag around. I've had to learn what affluence is, gluttony from the tech side of things if you will and how that can and does rub people the wrong way. I've had to learn how to be a teacher of those things Godly with this tech, sometimes at the cost of cutting off myself from the things others do. Frankly speaking, I've learned that there is a holiness to using technology that we really do miss because we are not usually taught that this exists in this medium.

And From Here?

I've been working with Brighthand for years, with Nokia and the S60 Ambassadors/Nokia Blogger Relations, worked as a web designer and developer for more than 9 years, and basically played the roll of techie to a lot of people in my life. There's more to this than devices and my own wares though. Without educating others on how to use this tech correctly, they miss the point of the benefits. Misuse almost always turns into someone speaking against proper use because of that misunderstanding.

The same thing has happened to Christianity on several levels since Jesus (one can even argue since Adam). There's a responsibility to wield this faith in a manner that represents the breadth of God's love. Whether that is speaking against inappropriate use, or just teaching someone how to study the Bible, the responsibility is clear...

...go to the ends of the earth and teach people about Jesus. Not just with a Bible and a few nice words, but with the power of the Holy Spirit.

When you think about it like that, mobile tech could really be on to something, couldn't it ;)

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, community, devotion, education, gospel, mission, mobility, stewardship, tech

I unintentionally tend to sit on some news stories. Hoping to speak about some things when there is an open slot or the chatter on the interwebs isn't so loud about it that it would get lost in the shuffle; some things just get pushed to the back a bit. Here's some of those items that aren't too flaccid in terms of timing, but definitely useful for various applications.

• Logos post address Spanish-oriented resources.
• The latest GMPSoft newsletter has several deals on various electronic resources for your PDA or smartphone including a Bible Bundle which includes the Greek UBS4 module.
• Something to make you think on how to approach little ones with the subject of hearing God and prayer even when its something that the Bible may/may not talk about ;)
• Palm Addict has a random giveaway of a 15 inch Mac PowerBook going on right now. The rules are to send in a post relevant to how you are using mobile tech. If not something that you need, definitely enter for someone in your circle who could use a computer but may not have the means to attain one.
• Swerve, a ministry of Lifechurch.tv, has two post titled 10 Things.... The first deals with Introspection and the second Ministry. Hands down, a very solid read and meditation piece for the weekend.
• And finally, the Carnival of the Mobilists at Mobilestance has plenty of readings from the past week in mobile tech.
• Forgot this one: YouVersion has done some updates that have improved performance and added a few new versions to the fray. Unless you are on an Internet Tablet like me, it really should work very well in connected settings as both a journaling and group Bible study tool.

Don't forget that we published MMM Issue 5 earlier this week. Several articles and insights there as well for your own mental scratchpad.

Labels: accessiblity, Apple, Bible, Carnival of the Mobilists, community, devotion, family, issue 5, mobile accessories, mobility, Spanish, stewardship, study, tech, worship

As more people are using mobile devices of all types as parts of their world, we are engaging one another in ways that are not dissimilar to being a new kid on a large campus. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore, but like all things, life without measuring these connections to the truths of the Gospel can cause undo suffering. How then do we balance this connectivity to the fact that the world has changed around us? And what is our responsiblity towards those who've not yet entered this "connected campus?"

Connected Campus

One of the myths of computing is that it is like other media. If you will, that like TV and radio before it, it is a self contained silo of information where connections are passively created by those with more capital or power. What has quickly become the truth though is that because of the "web" nature of the Internet and its associated technologies, the power is actually in the information, rather than in those who dissemate it. Because the reader, or connected participant, can decide to accept and continue to read, or move onto something else, the power of information is now in the hands of those who are willing to go out and get it, rather than those who are more apt to go out and serve it.

The Gospel Balance

This sounds a lot like that switch that Jesus aspoused the disciples to when he told them to "go out to all the world and make disciples." In effect, he was saying that in no way is this information good enough for just you to have and no one else. If you will, secret knowledge has no place. They were encouraged, and afterwards empowered to go to as many places as physically possible and spread the Good News. So in effect, by spreading the Gospel, people were to make connections that made for community, and overall a better quality of life for all.

Today's Connectivty

We have multiple means of connecting to the world around us. We can go TV, radio, Internet on a desktop, tablet, phone. We can set up concerts and other events as points of engagement. And then we can mash all of these things together to create something a bit more "community-ish." This is great, but like in all things, if we lose the point of making community, then we become more driven by statistcs and numbers, rather than that commission we are all encouraged to meet (go out and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that the Father as commanded).

Balancing Connectivity with Commission

Therein lies the fun part: balancing connectivity and its ever-changing ways with the commission and its ever-present consistancy. Some have taken the road to meter thier use of modern connectivity options because they have seen that it has taken them away from interacting with the people they were called to disciple. Some have increased their ability to connect with people because while the commission has not changed, the amount of sheep in the pasture has - considerably. In all cases, one has to take a survey of the commission (that doesn't change) and how they are following through with completing the vision as it was given. When there is more of an emphasis on the tool than the mission, then reevaluations should lead to repentance and reordering of connectivity.

And What About Those Not Connected

Instead of casting a net towards all of those possiblites of those who are not connected, I'd like to just concetrate on those whom are closer to our immediate spheres.

Those who might benefit from the digital aspects of connectivity should be not only trained on how to handle the Word and technology, but also learn by lesson and example what it means to do "responsible use." This means teaching things like how to evaluate what technology is best, how to choose the right option for email, and how to discern truth on the Internet. To teach these people how to understand technology we are taking that motto of teaching them how to fish literally; we are giving them the ability to discern and grow with the technology so that they can teach others.

Then there are those who have technology but are abusing it. To these people we also want to teach them how to evaluate technology. But, we want to teach them the dangers of pride and disallusion that comes from absuing connectivity. For example, as pastor once wrote here that he was happy that his computer was sent off for repair because he had not realized (even with others in his ear) that it had become and idol and instead of sheparding God's people, he was sheparding a computer. As I've learned so much in the past, just because you can do it does not mean that its good for you to do.

Graduating From Campus

Well, not exactly. This isn't college where you get a degree and then there's the real world. For many of us, some type of interaction with computers and the Internet is the real world. And like in college, you have to learn how to navigate the surroundings so that you can get through, but also so that others might be able to grab a hold of God's enabling (grace) so that they too can see that life is more than just trying to keep up with the Jonses.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, community, mission, mobile, tech

My bro was just telling me about how he uses Windows Live Writer as a component in making his increasing popular devotionals and it hit me that this type of integration of a blogging platform with a Bible reader program could help some who would like to get into journaling.

One of the issues with a program/service like Windows Live Writer (WLW) is that its a blogging program ment to publish to a blog. Its not specifically meant to write into as a journal. Then again, one could set up a private blog, and then have an online repository of their journaled writings, and then access that from anyplace (searchable any way).

WLW does have the feature of being usable offline. Meaning, one can view previous posts after they have been published, whether one is online or not.

But back to the Bible integration, how could this work?

Take a program like WordSearch. Excellent study materials, and a solid overall program. Add the capabilities of a solid program like WLW, and you have a Bible reader that has a notes program that links into and out of it personal notes. And gives the added benefit of making some personal commentary available publically.

Then again, our personal thoughts about God's Word are just that - personal. Leveraging the electronic services such as WLW and WordSearch, one could keep things personal, and gain a bit of digital posterity towards those thoughts.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, devotion, software, tech

Cynthia Ware has taken a look look at how Christian missionaries are using new media as parts of their efforts to connect and share news of their connections when away from their "roots." Here's a snippet:

...Today's missionaries are using blogs, facebook, shutterfly and other social media to extend their connectedness, reward their supporters and create archived memories of their unique adventures. Whether missionaries are serving on short term teams or serving in long term posts, they need no longer be disconnected from their points of origin, hometowns, partners, sending churches, extended families, etc. In fact, if they have internet access, there's virtually (no pun intended) no reason they can't be very connected...

Read the rest at Digital.Leadnet and also check out Cynthia's site Digital Sanctuary for more views on ministry, media, and their convergance.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, church, community, email, gospel, mission, mobile, mobile accessories, mobiles, networking, phone, podcast, software, tech, usablity, worship

This is one of those cases where I was sent an article and wondered why I didn't post about it before. Ah well, one cannot think and do everything.

Think Christian has an excellent post talking about those churches that have free hotspots taking that "empty" wireless space and using it to create an environment where web-workers, small groups, and others can come into a relaxed and laid back area and get "life" done. And then how such an environment makes for a simple place for discipliship and evangelism.

My previous church in MD has a setup like this and I know of others that do as well. As a point of rest and refreshing, there's not many better places than a church. And I can imagine that such an idea - hotspot ministry zones - can be a means for churches and organizations to reach out to those that would not usually enter those facilities.

There is an issue that will come up in terms of financing infrastructure. But what if the church basically made the wifi free, and then provided tech recovery/support services for a cost. Sounds like a nice meeting station in the mist of a tracked life.

- This conversation was spawned from one at Church Marketing Sucks on the same subject

Labels: accessiblity, community, email, mobile, tech

One can argue that this has probably been the first time since the late '90s that mobile devices have captured so much attention. In many ways, its flat out been the "year of the mobile" for a lot of areas:

- According to a recent report, over 1/8 of USAmerican households are totally mobile
What that means is that more often than not, people are choosing accessibility that is not based on a fixed location. Sure, wireless networks in the US are comparatively horrible, but considering the speed of innovation, that won't be the case for long. Are ministries equipped to roll with this trend?

- The iPhone has spurred several innovative approaches to mobile applications and mobile device usage beyond the techie-influencer cross-section of users
After years of life being stagnant for mobile users, the iPhone has come in to bring a measure of fresh air to several aspects of mobile technology. The really neat part is how the Body has responded to this. The next questions to be answered though are more far reaching, yet if reached have the potential to change a lot more than what's in our pockets.

There's always a ton more that can be said, but the point is pretty clear that there is more attention that's being paid to being mobile, and then making sure that being mobile is no more of an invasion of personal space than any other technology. In an upcoming article, I'll speak towards this attention to mobile, and what it means for the Body in more detail.

Labels: accessiblity, community, iPhone, Laridian, mobiles

I was reading some more about the new Nokia N810 Internet Tablet today and this editoral at Internettablettalk got me thinking about how kiosks, in concert with the various bits of mobile tech we carry might have a place in various arenas.

For example, instead of printing the weekly announcement, have a laptop setup with the announcement on it, and then a person at the laptop who would facilitate the transfer (SMS, Bluetooth, QR Code) to the digital device. Besides making a conversation piece (people will end up gathering to watch and then it can be a meeting point), its a way to extend the use of digital tech to something that people would otherwise read once and forget.

Then again, if I were in seminary, and needed a book or two, something like this would come in handy if I ever wanted to get something like this on my Treo :)

I currently am in a small (less than 100 members) church and this is something that I could see us easily doing given some testing of the system and then a brief trial run. Would something like this promote a better understanding of mobile tech in the various groups you are in as well?

Labels: accessiblity, internet tablet, mobile

Its taken a while to get my thoughts and heart together enough to address this. Considering the fervor that various mobile devices have caused in the past year though, I think that some accountability is an order, or at least a good bit of checking our motives at the door when it comes to these devices and what we want to do with them.

If you will, think of this as a look at stewardship, ownership, and accountability.

Matthew 22:15-22 ESV

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

This weekend I took some time to read through RSS feeds on my Treo. It had been some time since doing so, and there are several websites that I read there, that I do not anywhere else for various reasons. One of the common themes of the week happened to be the update for the iPhone (Version 1.1.1) that had come out. Several websites reported on this update beforehand of having the possiblity of bricking, or rendering useless, their iPhones. Those that would be effected would be those whose devices were being used on another carrier's network, or had other functionality exposed that was not in the original design of the iPhone.

The day of the release came, and then came the reports of what worked and what did not work. Suffice to say, there were plenty of disappointed people. Especially those who had unlocked the iPhone to be used on other carriers around the world, or those whose use of special applications enabled functionality that was nor present in the off-the-shelf-version.

A statement from Apple days before the release of the update (from Engadget):

...the company has released an official statement warning users that "unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs" could cause "irreparable damage to the iPhone's software." Furthermore, the firm stated that these apps could result in the handset becoming "permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed" -- you know, like the one coming "later this week" that includes the iTunes WiFi Music Store. As if that wasn't bad enough, the release also notes that "unauthorized modifications to the iPhone's software" violates the iPhone software license agreement and "voids the warranty."

So basically, if you installed software you were not supposed to, then you are not supposed to expect an official update to continue to allow your device to work.

A post that I read at The SmartPDA posted this (thanks):

Nowadays, when you buy gadgets and software, you enter into an agreement with the manufacturer and your service provider, usually outlined in the manual or in the software itself. Quite frankly, nobody (myself included) takes the time to read the agreement, since we're too busy enjoying our new toys.

Anyone who purchases an iPhone enter[s] into a provider agreement with AT&T, and into an End User License Agreement with Apple over the smartphone's software.

There are two aspects at play here, one of which is very much a part of how Christians define themselves as relating to the world around us:

Romans 13 ESV (selected quotes)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer...

There are a few ways of looking at this, but we will will just cover a few of the topmost points, and let discussion merit the rest.

Because of end-user license agreements that a person agrees to when they purchase software or hardware, you agree not to do certain things to the item in return for a specific service. When you pay Apple (Steve Jobs and company) for the iPhone, one part of that agreement is that you make the concession NOT to modify the software of the device in any fashion, nor to manipulate the ability of the radio software to work in any fashion not prescribed by At&T or Apple.

In the US, phone makers and carriers are required by law to allow for a phone to be unlocked to be used on compatable carriers where possible. This law is usually circumvented by carriers by modifying aspects of the hardware or software so that it is harder for the device to work on another carrier. Or, by making exclusivity agreements with carriers that stipulate that a device is to be sold/used on one carrier for a specific amount of time. The latter is the case with the iPhone.

So, is it against the law to modify your iPhone to be used on another carrier? Yes.

Is it against the law to demand that Apple modify the agreement that you signed and agreed to stating that you would not use the device in any way that violates the terms of service or end-user agreement? No. It is not against the law to demand it, but not right to expect it per your timing.

As much as we believe that a device is ours and we should be able to do what we want, the truth is we cannot. As believers, and moreso as law-abiding citizens, we have to hold to standards that speak not towards lawlessness, but towards civility. If you are a believer who has purchased an iPhone and are using it in ways that break the end-user-license agreement or terms of service, you cannot expect your unsantioned use to be officially updated. If what you purchased does not fit how you want to use it, then find a device that does, or admit that your lusts cannot be fulfilled by this temporary thing and wait on the device that does work best for what you'd like to do.

Give Apple their just due for providing a device that has made you excited, but don't let your lusts for wanting to use it cost Christ's name.

Labels: accessiblity, Devotions, iPhone, mobile, tech

One of the things that I've liked about the N95 is that its let me get back into just browsing the Net, not just reading info. Granted, browsing is fun when there is nothing to do of dire importance and there is just loose time. So what did my rabbit hole bring tonite...

- I started at Jaiku. I wanted to see what some of my contacts were up to. I still think that an Opera widget and a mobile client for every other phone would make this an awesome application for a lot of folks.

- I peeked in on Darla Mack's blog via her Jaiku channel when I saw a post about Nokia's mobile web server. Now this got me thinking that I should move to a Symbian device, and then host MMM on the device. Besides accessible as all get out, it would really kick the mobile notch up a good bit.

- Continued on Jaiku and saw that there is a TUAW channel (for the Apple fans, they should know that site).

- Clicked there and read Robert Scoble talk about giving up the N95 and appreciating the iPhone.

- had another tab open stil to TUAW's Jaiku and got the idea via ijustine and The Remix of Children's Ministry (found via Robert Scoble's site) that its not the tech nor the availabilty that is the issue, just how we want to imagine using it to reach an audience and just going there.

- I managed to come out of the hole though to reinitate the full posts in RSS feeds, and at take a bit more of a thought to moving MMM completly mobile. If the right Nokia device were to come along (the N95's battery and memory issues are the only real hold up for this one), I'd probably do it; which would make that whole planning for MMM to be reinvented in MT4 go to waste a bit...sorry LJ.

- There's not much else that I can say other that since moving to Charlotte God's been heavy. God's been just moving a whole lot, from temporary residency to a job to a possible apartment. God's been extremely gracious and hence my heart being heavy for doing well with MMM. There's a whole lot out there, and God's saw fit to lead me this far - lead YOU this far. It's not like we deserve this, but He's so, so gracious. A few friends can testify to the fact that today I've never been more in awe, thankful, gracious of God's hands in my life. He says, "I know the plans I have for you." I've been walking towards Charlotte and more for 8+ years... there's just a whole lot that just browsing doesn't capture....things that God hands and flow just happen to roll with. I am so not ready for this IMO, but God has saw fit to just dump some grace notes on me. Heavy stuff.

Labels: accessiblity, children, devotion, iPhone, Jaiku, mobiles, N95, usablity

In a comment in a previous posting, this was asked about a content direction for MMM:

What I would like to see is more how technology can replace paper and how to get people to accept the technology as a tool for everyday life.

If I had to sit and first ask that I would ask how does technology have a place in your everyday life. Whether this is a laptop to catch up on mail when you get home, or managing finances, or connecting with friends and family located in various areas, where are some of your everyday uses of tech?

The other side of that is the hard part, the sell if you will:

...how to get people to accept the technology as a tool for everyday life.

The only way to really do this is to idenitfy the tool and the use that is both painless and totally beneficial to the user. So if that is replacing a checkbook with a PDA because the bank messes up, or using a laptop because you need better organization to Bible study notes, the technology has to be a means to an end. If not, we get into that idol-factory of getting it just because it is cool.

Another way that tech has everyday use is found simply in checking out the manual as to what your device can do. For example, did you know that if you have a laptop and a printer, that you don't have to pay for a newspaper subscription. Most of the major articles are posted online (cost of paper, ease of use) and those that are not there are community blogs that discuss much of the rest of the paper. Or, instead of carrying a PDA, carry a USB key with portable versions of Firefox, Open Office, and other applications and just plug in your USB key at a public computer and have your mobile tech right on your keychain (size, privacy, ease of use, cost).

There are a few ways that tech can be used everyday. How do you use yours?

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, community, mobile, usablity

UPDATE (Feb 2007): A year after the iPhone's introduction, there are plenty of iPhone solutions for Bible reading and study. Here are a few:

• iPocketBible by Laridian
• iPhone Bible by Apathy Online
• iPhone Bible (w/LDS)
• iBiblez
• See more at this more recent list

I had intended to wait on this specific question until I was able to read something a bit more official from the various Bible software makers, but it's as good a time as any to talk about the Bible on your iPhone (or Foleo, or N800, or any device for that matter that you cannot save everything on, but have to utilize the Internet).

eBible is a possiblity
The first product/website that I thought of when the iPhone was announced that it would only support application written through the Safari web browser was eBible. Unlike other Bible websites and applications, eBible is a browser-based application that combines the ability to read various translations of the Bible, as well as a bookmarking and notes features. There is a premium edition to eBible that unlocks commentaries and other resources as well.

This is an excellent solution if you are in a place where a web connection is possible when you want to read. The major advantage of eBible is that you don't just have access to your notes and bookmarks on the mobile device, but through any web browser. Of course, if you do not have Wi-Fi or cellular-based wireless internet available, then you get no text.

There's nothing else!!!
Yes, if you have an iPhone, you really do not have any other option. While other internet-enabled devices such as the N800 and Palm Foleo have the ability to have programs written for them that could take advantage of the devices' online/offline ability, to date only the N800 is an available product, and the Bible reader for it is not yet very usable for the casual user even though there is an installer to lighen the process of getting a reader installed (I prefer to use eBible and zbible.mobi on the N800 for the best experience).

The Hybrid Bible Solution
I spoke once before about applications that would have both online and offline components, and I think that the iPhone will help to usher that age of mobile applications in a bit easier. The harder question for these applications will come from the browser side for respective devices. Right now, there are just too many mobile devices that do not have the power or physical ability to have a browser that is as good as a desktop one. And though companies such as Nokia are having great success in making their smartphone platforms a bit more everywhere, the knowledge transfer of getting people to know that their devices do more than text and voice seems to be only something Apple has done well.

Addition: The folks at Laridian have been having a running conversation about MyBible on the iPhone and its possiblity or not of going to that platform. It brings up some interesting points spoken about here.

So yes, you can do the Bible on your iPhone. And if my guess is right, other software makers might look at the eBible solution and do something a bit more accessible to all devices, but similar nonetheless. I do think that the paradigm of how we use Bible readers on mobile devices needs to change if something like this would happen. Here's hoping that some developers out there take a chance and do something like the iPhone that is easy to use, and fits a need.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, eBible, iPhone, mobile, N800

One of the things that I liked about my MD church is that there is free wifi available for those using handheld or laptop devices. And while some of you might be thinking, "what does a church need to be offering wifi for?" One of the reasons that it does so is to enable those who are not staff to utilize the church's resources to get some things done. Some college students are even seen working on their laptops between services on Sundays getting papers done and what have you. If you will, by offering free (and usable) wifi, the church has made it easy for people to leave home for a while and come to another place to work and worship.

I had this thought after reading this article though, that there could be more done to serve those who are out and about, but want to be connected to either what is going on with life or church. I wonder what all could be one to help facilitate some seemless mobile computing usages throughout some (larger moreso than smaller) congregations.

I think of simple things such as having a mobile friendly page on their website that can be used to find out church times and the latest events (since search seems to be a big reason people are using mobile internet). I think of plugging into services such as Earthcomber that will not just give you a heads up on what is around in terms of places, but also what is going on in terms of events.

I wonder if it is even possible that one could log on to their church/community's website and then engage in community building events or discussions. Similar to a distance learning application, but where the browser is all that is needed, and information can be quickly shared.

The key thing is making something accessible, and from that point, we can use the tech to facilitate/encourage community.

Labels: accessiblity, community, Earthcomber, mobile

One of the things that Iam looking at today is how the n800 works as a commuter device. The rss and music player work really well. Though this is a internet device, it can work offliine pretty well.

What is missing though comes in a simple calendar or some integration to a calendar. If this could sync to Google calendar or MS Exchange then I could see this pulling some occasional PIM duty,

I've been playing music for 7+ hours at the time of this writing. This aspect is really impressive. No web and this is the first time writing anything more than a quick note.

I need to find a blogging program that will let me save posts. This could be fun ;)

Now to find that online/offline bible program.

At this point, this is really close to being a solid purchase. If you are not sold on smartphones and find that wifi and customization can work, the n800 is as good as I have used.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, internet tablet, N800, usablity

I was talking to a friend tonite after visiting a Bible study and she asked me about a new mobile phone. She had a few items that it had to fulfill, but the key thing is that she wanted to make sure that it fit her life. Given what she was looking for, I was able to help her settle into two devices, and a plan that would not kill her budget. But I was left with the question: this person wants to do more with their mobile, but it it because the mobile is to fit their life, or that the mobile is something more?

In a recent article published at Brighthand, I talked about two types of mobile devices and the users that feather each. In both cases, I'm looking for some kind of connection between the person, the device, and what they want to be/do. There is some connection that can (at a small level) be generalized, but I wonder, in light of that article, if that is something that could also be asked here.

For you, is your mobile device - PDA, smartphone, laptop, etc. - a lifestyle device as described in the article, or something other?

Labels: accessiblity, community, mobile, usablity

I've recently blogged about this at my personal site, but wanted to take a somewhat different route here.

At its core, mobile technology is supposed to able more seemless avenues of communication. For some people that has clearly been the case. Some choose phones based on how they handle SMS, web, and email. Rarely do you hear someone saying that they want a phone that has a killer address book. In many respects its a given for the address book and other items to just be there and work.

But if we really thought about how we connect with each other and how we want to communicate, I'd wager to say that for many, the address book is problably the least developed and least used item on a moble device. Sure, it can store tons of numbers, a picture, and with a click or tap get a line of communication to someone. But does the address book really help foster community, or only give a sense of the community that we wish to have?

I've recently started using an online presence service called Jaiku. As a service, it is not terribly complex. It leverages short text messages and links to various types of RSS feeds to give a picture of who you are, and threads by which you can get into and out of different commnities. This is all well and good, but it has this traditional feature of being passive. We wait to be communicated with, or engaged before we create that thread that ends up being community.

Earlier I said that mobile tech only gives a sense of community, it doesn't really look to foster it. So how could an address book foster community? I think a serivce like Jaiku is part-way there. Jaiku has a downloadable application (only Symbian phones currently) that essentially makes your address book into an online presence application. Where you once just had static information and had to contact someone to see if they were available, with Jaiku you set your state, and those in your contact list (buddy list) could see that and be responsive to that state (think like away settings on an instant messaging program).

And just as easy as you can tell someone to not chat to you, this application allows you to set an actual geographic location (based on cell towers) so that those people either within Bluetooth range, or cell tower range would know that you are in the area.

Imagine if you will, taking a trip to minister to a small town, and they know that you are in the area as soon as you get within cell tower range. Sure, they might not have met you before, but because you didn't have to call and say, "hey, I'm 5 minutes from you;" there is the chance for a larger community involvement. Or in the case of ministering to senior citizens, their phone with your information in there and presence set so that they can contact you without feeling as if they interrupted your "young and spiry" way of life.

I am well aware that an application like this will bring up questions of privacy and availablity. But, as I learned recently from a book that I read, we have a God given ability to say no and to turn off those avenues in our life where we do not want people to drive down. As one friend of mine states, "I don't turn my phone on unless I want to make a call because I don't want the unnecessary and disruptive ringing." We have to be managers of the space that we are given, and when the opportunity presents itself, be open to share in the lives of others.

Imagine if every phonebook in every mobile device had that option of being static (as they are now) or organic (online presnece and availabilty like instant messaging). Being able to create lines of community that exist beyond just knowing a phone number or email address, and actively being able to reach into opened areas of one another's lives to encourage and edify. If you will, creating the opportunity for community, the space for the Gospel to be lived. Kinda neat isn't it?

Feel free to add me to your Jaiku contacts, and let's make some God-pleasing community out of this :)

Labels: accessiblity, community, Jaiku, mobile, phone

Since getting the N800, I have had a rash of thoughts about mobile computing. Mostly thinking of mobility as a way of life and a [impending] movement, rather than just an alternative way of to how to do things that computers have enabled us to do. I've started processing my thoughts, and have placed an initial post of those thoughts at my personal site. Here is a snippet:

...The 'why' should be addressed first. If only because what we consider as computing is changing by leaps and bounds. What was once university and big science computing, is now doable in the palms of our hands. We can take our data on the go and use it to interact with our world in ways that sci-fi only dreamed about 30 years ago. And at the same time, legislation and technology is moving at such a pace that if we do not understand it now, we will be overrun and have the perspective that "the technology is out to take over us...

Read the entire post.

What are your thoughts concerning mobile technology and how it is slowly becoming a part of everyday computing? Whether we think of a smartphone, laptop, online calendar, or MP3 player, all of these lifestyles are swooping in and out of this space we call mobile computing. How do we respond to this as those who represent Christ? Or, should we even respond at all?

Labels: accessiblity, community, mobile, N800, usablity

I was just on an instant messaging (IM) conversation with LJ talking about an aspect of working with information that I would like to be better at doing, but so far have not taken enough of an initiative to do so. Essentially, I'd like to get to the point where information is working for me (and others) instead of me working for information.

This thought started a few weeks ago when I called for a meeting at my church of the guys on my a/v team. In sharing with them that the meeting was mandatory, I also sent to them a vCal attachment that had the meeting details. I explained that this vCal could be downloaded and saved into Outlook, Google Calendar, or if they need it on their phone, forwarded to their phone to appear in its calendar. One of the attendees responded back that it was great to have that information and it made it a lot easier for him to respond favorably to the meeting because that (small) part of putting the information into his calendar was already done.

That got me thinking, how can I harness an action like sending a vCal item for meetings into a better experience of having information that serves me instead of me serving it?

So far, I am only as far into this thought process that I can say that what I'd like is to get into the pattern of attaching my vCard (business card) and vCal (meeting/calendar) items to emails when I want people to have an action response to something. But, I wonder if this can go further. Not so much in using a web service or a specific tool, but how can I change the way that I do things so that I am now serving people, instead of serving information and pulling people along?

What are your thoughts on this? How can we make information work for us, instead of being pushed and pulled by it?

Labels: accessiblity, community, microformats, mobile, usablity