TechShepherds.com

Does your washing machine communicate with you?

Okay, let me resist the urge to say, "Well, back in my day."  Remember the many hours spent in the college dorm laundry room waiting for your clothes?  Or worse yet, how many walked into the laundry room and someone left his clothes in the manchine...for hours?

Technology to the rescue.  According to an article in CRM magazine, some universities have implemented the eSuds.net solution.  Students can sign up for notification via text message or email to let them know when a machine becomes available or when their own laundry loads are finished.

Out of Order:  No more having to call a technician and waiting for days.  If a machine has a problem, it notifies the maintenance group imediately, which greatly reduces the down time.

Not only are they getting happier "customers" but increased sales as machines are not sitting idle. 

Integration:
Not only is this a great service, but it implements with Blackboard.  In short, this allows the students to use their campus payment cards instead of searching for quarters.

While there may not be a direct use for washing room technologies in churches, how could something like this enhance ministry? 

It offers:

• Clear Communication
• Choices:  Communication via the student's prefered method
• Convenience
• Better stewardship of time and resources (imagine being able to continue your homework - yeh, homework - and receive a notification your clothes are ready)
• Response through proactive support

How can these items help in reaching out to the community?

Link: eSuds.net :: FAQs.

Free $25 Google AdWords Credit

Give search engine marketing a try for free.  Read more at the following link.

Link: Church Marketing Sucks: Free $25 Google AdWords Credit.

Use Your Current Phone with Skype

If you are a Skype user and want to use your regular telephone on the Skype service, you are in luck.  Actiontec has created the Internet Phone Wizard to allow you to do just that.  What is cool about this you can hook up a cordless phone and roam about your home or office instead of using a corded headset at your computer.

Learn more about Actiontec's Internet Phone Wizzard.
Learn more about Skype.

Here are the Pros and Cons according to Laptop Magazine:
Pros:

• Works with standard cordless phones
• Simple setup
• Good sound quality
• Can easily switch between Skype and landline

Cons:

• Must have landline to call 911
• Doesn't support caller ID

Daylight Saving Changes Could Confuse Gadgets

Some experts are calling it the next Y2K....

The new Energy Bill passed by congress and signed into law by the President earlier this month is set to extend Daylight Savings Time beginning in 2007.  This is intended as an energy saving measure, but some experts say it could confuse some technology items.  Read more at the links below.

Link: nbc13.com - Technology - Daylight Saving Changes Could Confuse Gadgets.
Link: FoxNews

Google plans instant-messaging service

With the way teens are using Instant Messengers, it is important to note the that "sources" say Google will announce today and may release as early as tomorrow thier instant messaging service called Google Talk.  It appears this may go beyond the IM services of today and compete with services like Skype.

If confirmed, the combined computer text and voice-calling service would put Google in competition with a similar service pioneered by Skype, which has attracted tens of millions of users, especially in Europe, to its own service. Skype can be used on any modern PC with speakers and a microphone, but many people plug in headsets to their computers to make the process more "phone-like."  ~ MSNBC.com

Link: Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com

UPDATE:  You can now download your free copy of Google Talk

Digital Revolution

Technology fueling a revolution.  Mark Batterson has a great post about how technology fueled the Protostant Revolution.

How is technology fueling your ministry?

Link: Evotional.com - Originality, Authenticity, Creativity.

Church Data On the Go

No matter what the size of your church, I am sure you have been away from the office and needed a phone number or address of a member or prospect.  Sure, some CMS solutions (church management software) allow you to export the address book where you can then import it into your Outlook which then synchronizes with your PDA such as a (Palm or Pocket OS) device.

The problem with that is you have to remember to do this export/import/synch dance often in order to keep your data from becoming out of date.  However, even if you do this every morning, you will not have current information that afternoon.

There is a solution...
Fellowship One includes Mobile Access.  This allows you to use any HTML compatible mobile phone or PDA.  So you can have access to the most current data anywhere, anytime.

Learn more about this Fellowship One feature by clicking here.

The New Bluefield.edu

I had the privilege of visiting Virginia's Bluefield College.  While there I was able to spend some time with a great group of people and train them on how to manage their new E-zekiel website through Details Communications.

Their new site has now gone live.  Take a look at it here.

Limited Connection

I am out of town for a few days and have limited connection to the Internet.  Because of that, the next several days will be very light on content.  My email is also piling up during this time.  If you are waiting on a response from me, I appreciate your patience until I get back up to speed.

Printing Way Beyond Paper

If you ever need to print on surfaces other than paper, you need to check out this plotter.  Thanks Terry, for sharing this post and pictures!