Archive for 'Technology'
Google Calendar, Contacts Mail and the iPhone
Posted on 09. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
As I write this, I’m expecting Jonathan Cliff to write a comment saying I’m making this too complicated and that I’m doing this all wrong, but I thought I’d share some of the technology frustrations I encountered today and how I fixed them.
One of the greatest leaps in technology in recent years was the ability to share my work calendar with my wife. No longer did we have to have long conversations of when I might be available, but instead, she’d just make appointments on my calendar for me.While I was on a PC, there were some good syncing apps between outlook (what I used) and google calendars (what she used). When I switched to a Mac, it got hard again. Then when we switched to Google Apps at Gateway, all was well. However, now my wife uses her iPhone 90% of the time rather than her computer.
For the past 18 months (at least), Sara has had an iPhone and she’s had access to my calendar and all has been well. However, for the past 2-3 months, she’s not had access to my calendar. I’m not sure what happened, maybe Apple or Google changed something.
Continue Reading
Don’t let SOPA return!
Posted on 07. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
A few months ago, SOPA and PIPA were shut down because Americans showed policy makers that we value freedom. If you missed that post, you can read it here. It was one of the most successful campaigns and the bills were totally shut down as policy makers pulled their support.
However, the Obama administration is still voicing support of SOPA. Wired noted recently that:
“The White House did say that it wouldn’t endorse a bill that endangers freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risks, or negatively affects the DNS system. On the other hand, it says elsewhere that “combating online infringement” — not protecting free speech — is a governmental priority “of the highest order.”
I got an email from Fight the Future yesterday stating that:
What is the White House working on exactly? Just the other day, the administration sent a letter to Congress to demonstrate their support for new internet censorship legislation.
Continue Reading
Augmented reality glasses: coming soon
Posted on 04. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
I saw this today on a bajillion people’s facebook feeds.
Sure, there are many downsides to this kind of technology. With these, we’ll become the multi-tasking addicts we’re already becoming comfortable with as it is. However, if you look around, most people are wandering around the city goofing off with their phone, looking for directions, checking in and listening to music… these augmented reality glasses just put it all on a more convenient screen.
Here’s what I’m seeing though. Remember when the bluetooth headsets became really popular and everyone was talking hands free as they walked down the street. It quickly became a social turn-off.
Continue Reading
Printing bliss
Posted on 04. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
Last week I posted about my search for the perfect wireless laser printer. I got a couple of good recommendations, but I got an email response from someone with some pretty compelling reasons for picking up the HP LaserJet Pro P1102w.
I got it last night and I’m in love. I call it printing freedom because I can print from just about anything I care to print from. iPads, iPhone, Macs and PCs.
Continue Reading
App of the week: Glo
Posted on 01. Apr, 2012 by Kenny.
A couple of weeks ago a co-worker was sitting next to me during a staff small group meeting and he was looking up a scripture passage. Instead of YouVersion (which is a great app and I highly recommend), he was using something different. there was something amazingly refreshing and different about the layout. He told me about it and I downloaded the free “lite” version. It’s the Bible app “Glo.”
If you have a iPad, I highly recommend the app. Here’s the best way I can describe how it is different from all the other Bible apps.
Continue Reading
Digital signatures for volunteer documents
Posted on 27. Mar, 2012 by Kenny.
I have questions that have both a technological and legal aspects. More and more our ministries are moving toward a digital medium. One of the biggest holdups for many volunteer processes is “paperwork.” It’s frustrating as we have conversations with people, meet them in person and then say, oh, fill out these pages and then we’ll get the ball rolling. Some of us have taken additional steps in putting all of these forms online, but it still usually requires someone to download the form, print and sign it. Once this is finished, those volunteers either mail it in, hand deliver it or scan/fax/email back to us. For living in the 21st century, this seems like a bunch of steps from digital to analog and back to digital again. I’m wondering though if we can keep the process purely digital. Here are my thoughts followed by questions.
Continue Reading
In search of the perfect printer
Posted on 26. Mar, 2012 by Kenny.
Okay, I need a little help from some fellow tech geeks. I have a 6 year old Dell laser printer which has been a fantastic little printer. I was using a wireless printer server for about 3 years until it crashed and burned a few months ago. I could never get my mac to print wirelessly, so I always had to email stuff to the PC and print from there. I’ve been setting aside some cash and I think I have enough now to get what I want. So, here is what I’m looking for and I’m hoping that someone can tell me what I could get.
Continue Reading
App of the week: Keynote Remote
Posted on 25. Mar, 2012 by Kenny.
A sure fire, no miss app for me that has saved my hide on many occasions this year has been Keynote Remote. If you use a mac personally or use macs for presentations at church or other speaking opportunities, I’d highly suggest investing in this very useful app for your iPad, iPod or iPhone. I’ve found myself in situations where the remote clicker I needed to use for a presentation could not get a clear line of site with the compter or perhaps I was too far away from the compter to get an appropriate signal to control the slideshow.
Continue Reading
Collaboration to the NEXT level!
Posted on 20. Mar, 2012 by Kenny.
So, I posted the other day that I’ve been watching a lot of TED talks through the TED app. It’s funny because I find myself in many conversations recently where I’ll say, “You know, I watched a TED talk recently that said…” If you’re looking to enrich your conversations with other people, by all means, you should watch/listen to some of these talks.
However, I listened to one on Saturday that has shaken me. The pure beauty of the innovation and thinking outside of the box both excites me and challenges me. It made me wish and pray for this kind of innovative thought for ministry. In this talk, Luis von Ahn explains how he’s leveraging the masses for incredibly massive collaborative projects, even when the masses have no idea how they are contributing.
Continue Reading
Come hang out with me at Orange
Posted on 23. Feb, 2012 by Kenny.
This April I’ll be attending my 5th Orange Conference and I must say that I’m very excited. Last year was an incredibly experience from connecting with some of my favorite people, learning from some of the greatest leaders in ministry and being honored with the opportunity to lead a handful of breakouts.
Well, I must have done all right as I’ve been invited back again to lead another breakout. I’ll be leading Preconference Workshop #3 “How To: Connect with Parents Via Social Networking.” This is on Wednesday at 1:30 PM. Here’s what I’m excited about.
- If you select the “Social Media in Ministry” track, you’ll find four workshops being taught by Matt McKee, Gina McClain and me. I think it’s a fun that I get to be a part of this track with some of my best friends in ministry.
Continue Reading
