The Study Bible Challenge for Mobile Electronic Devices

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The Study Bible Challenge forMobile Electronic
Devices
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Question

• How do you study the Bible on a mobile device?

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Definition of a Study Bible
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Common Study Bible Tools

• Annotations explaining difficult passages or
  points of theology and doctrine
• References to indicate where one passage of the
  text relates to others
• A concordance word index that indicates where
  various key words are used in the Bible. In
  software, we do meaningful searches.
• Variant translations or interpretations of
  certain debatable passages, or possible textual
  emendations (i.e. alterations of the original
  Hebrew or Greek)
• Introductions and historical notes for each book
  of the Bible
• Maps that illustrate the Holy Land during Bible
  times
• Parallels of related Bible passages, e.g.
  harmonies of the Gospels that highlight parallel
  incidents in the life of Jesus
• Timelines of Bible history that relate it to
  world history.
• Interlinear translations (word-by-word) such as
  Greek/English.

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Early Study Bibles

• The Geneva Study Bible (1560) included
  cross-references, synopses, and doctrinal points.
  
• The Scofield Reference Bible (1909) was created
  by Cyrus I. Scofield and based on the King James
  Bible text.

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Early Study Bibles

• Geneva Bible (1603)
• See text notes in margins
• Geneva Bible for Palm
• Free download from OliveTree.com
• Available soon for iPhone!

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Study Bibles Today

• Various formats print, mobile, desktop, web

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Criteria for a Study Bible

• Bible textat least one translation
• Additional resources such as notes,
  cross-references, maps
• A way to navigate easily between Bible text and
  additional resources hyperlinks, tabs, windows,
  other?
• How far can this definition be broadened?
• Is a Bible with cross-references a study Bible?
  Is a Bible with a few translators notes a study
  Bible?

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Mobile Bible Study
Which resource is more mobile?
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Special Features of Electronic Mobile Bible Study

• Smart, powerful, meaningful searches
• Instant links to related data such as
  commentaries or dictionaries
• Special icons and notations in the Bible text
  that can be selectively added or removed
• Personal annotations such as bookmarks, notes,
  and highlighting that can be reorganized,
  imported, exported, or synched with a website or
  another electronic device
• Wide range of methods to view related data in
  pop-ups, windows, lists, and other GUI controls
• Ability to save various workspace arrangements
• Ability to selectively track, and synchronize
  various display controls.

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Mobile Presentation is Evolving
Joined windows with morphology and parsing
Split screen with English and Greek
Reference window with Strongs Dictionary
Reference window with Bible text
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Popular Mobile Study Bibles

• ESV Study Bible
• NIV Study Notes
• iLumina Mobile
• Catholic Study Bible
• Complete Word Study Bible

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• Multiple mobile platforms
• multiple programming
• languages
• multiple screen sizes
• multiple user interfaces
• multiple licenses and
• permissions

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• Varied screen sizes
• tiny, small, and medium
• Varied user interface
• Touch Sensitive Screen?
• Keyboard?
• Stylus?
• When to use windowing/pop-ups?
• When and how to navigate to a new screen?

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• Reference window

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• Study resources available at many levels
• How to show user what features and resources are
  available?
• Resources may relate at multiple levels

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• How is it packaged for the user?
• Once installed, can it be used with other tools,
  or is it limited?
• Some publishers prefer that their texts and tools
  link to certain resources (e.g. certain Bible
  translations)

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Challenges in Mobile Technology

• When is a study Bible too difficult to use?
• When is a screen too cluttered with icons or
  notes?
• When is navigation to a commentary or other
  resource too difficult?

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• The Study Bible was created in print media to
  meet a certain set of needs.
• Electronic media allows change, variety, and
  flexibility in presentation and use.
• Each format has advantages and disadvantages.

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Print Study Bible

• Advantages
• Interface is familiar to all users
• Interface doesnt change every 4 ½ months
• Easy to choose a package of tools

• Disadvantages
• Not portable
• Set tools, cant be expanded

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Mobile Study Bible

• Advantages
• Portable take and use anywhere
• Choose and link any study tools
• Turn any Bible version into a study Bible
• Powerful, meaningful search functions
• Allows transferrable personal annotations

• Disadvantages
• Unfamiliar interface, high learning curve for
  users
• Too many choices of tools overwhelming for new
  users
• Hard to install on some mobile devices
• Higher-level features and options hidden and/or
  not used

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Blurring the Lines between Mobile, Desktop, and
Web

• Upcoming blur between mobile, desktop, and web in
  devices, applications, and workspaces
• Entire Web becomes a Bible Study supplement
• Data for resources may come from local files,
  web, other devices, and more

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Future of Mobile Electronic Bible Study

• May become simpler (i.e. iPhone)
• May become more complex and interactive with the
  increase of social networking