This past summer saw MMM participating in several conversations and sessions around opportunities and issues for mobile developers (with WIP Connector). More often than not, its isn’t the clearest of pictures for development when you start diving into niche arenas such as religious content. The market is indeed different, and the challenges can be pretty looming. Nevertheless, there are some consistent themes, especially in terms of getting apps to market and monetization.
This graphic, produced by Vision Mobile, makes it pretty clear the prospects for developers on the major mobile platforms. Especially as it relates to mobile software in the religious domain, paying attention to the installed base of users is just as important as just getting something developed – and you don’t want to spin your wheels learning how to develop for every platform.
Another site that offers several info-graphics towards understanding opportunities within mobile can be found at Asymco. Asymco has a ton of data and usually packs in some solid commentary around his methodologies used. Here’s one graphic that some in the Bible software industry might find interesting:
Graphic from Visualizing iPad vs Mac, via Asycmo
Now, you can find info-graphics on a ton of areas within mobile, but you will want to make sure that you are viewing it through the appropriate lens. The data shown in this post is great, but you will need to combine it with data on (world/local) religions, tech adoption (economics), and probably media (text/publishing, audio/music, and video) in order for it to make the most sense contextually.
Accurately Discerning the Word
Friday, August 6th, 2010One of the conversations had earlier this week also noted an aspect of mobility and constant access that speaks into other areas. The the subject in that part of the conversation had to do with the issue of how to verify that the things being read online are true enough to build a stable doctrinal foundation.
Thursday night, this topic came up again as some brothers were talking about 2 Timothy 2, and the impression by Paul on Timothy to not just strive for an understanding in all things (v.7), but to not let that understanding lead you into arguments over vain and profane topics (v.16). As we talked about the characteristics of a conversation what is mature, this sub-topic of exactly “how” to study to become acccurate in doctrine (v.15).
As technologists and students of the Word, it is very easy to get into “I use this application to study because it offers this and that feature.” I’d like to mature that question by asking the very pointed question:
This is a tough question for some, because the challenge isn’t just to say “I know because the Spirit told me so.” The burden of proof is on how you take whatever topic or area of Scripture you are studying and how this relates to the previously held and disputed contentions about that item over the course of Judeao-Christian history. Ideally, the “how you discern” comes from such attention. I’d like to know what that looks like, based on usage of digital resources and the experiences within ministry you’ve had.
And if you’ve not quite figured out the “how” just yet, but looking to do so, comment towards what exactly you are having trouble with, or what specific challenges you might be having relating the availability of information, the expanse of it, and then that undertaking of reading the right things.
Looking forward to your comments on this one.
Tags: academic research, applications, Bible study, community, connectivity, context, education, history, information, languages, learning, mobility, resources, software, study, validation, web
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