TechShepherds.com

Closed Caption for Churches

If you broadcast video of your services, it is a great idea that you have closed captioning available.  In fact, the FCC is mandating that it be included.

Our church outsources this and has found it to be more economical that doing it in house.  I highly recommend the folks at Creative Caption & Video. (http://www.creativecaption.com/)

If you have not begun closed captioning, there is a link on the Creative Caption & Video site that gives information about filing a petition for exemption with the FCC.

Free Help Desk Software

Are you having difficulty finding the time to manage it all?

• Installation and Implementation
• Help Desk Administration
• Asset Control and Management
• Remote Control

Looking for a solutions that will work but not break your budget?  Check out the free version of the Help Desk and Asset Management solutions from Ilient by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

Disclaimer:  I have not personally used this product, but I have looked at the documentation. It does appear to be a great tool for the church sys admin.   Has anyone ever used this product and have any feedback for the rest of us?

Link: Help Desk Software by Ilient.

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

AMBER Alerts come to SMS

In an effort to disseminate information as quickly as possible, the Amber Alert system has partnered with cell phone companies to be able to send out alerts to individuals who sign up.  If you are interested, you can sign up at https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org.

Ministry Applications:
Imagine if this were a feature churches could implement.  Some of the uses I can thing of off the top of my head are:

• Do away with beepers (or at least reduce the number needed) and have parents leave theie SMS info when they check in their child(ren).
• Prayer teams can be notified quicklly of immediate needs
• Youth groups could use this in numerous ways to communicate with students

Do you know of a system that allows churches to do this?  What are some ideas you have for using a system like this?

Link: AMBER Alerts come to SMS - Engadget - www.engadget.com.

Free Online Learning

If you are looking for free online training, this is a great resource from Hewlett Packard.  They have several courses in the following categories:

• Software & Technology
• IT Professionals
• Business & Productivity
• In-house Marketing
• Real Estate

Check them out at the link below.  Registration is free and classes are available 24/7.

Link: HP Learning Center - Online classes.

Tame those wild cables

Computer cables are like spaghetti.  It never fails...as soon as you use a permanent cable tie, you need to make a change.  This necessitates cutting the cable tie and using a new one once your changes are complete.  I have seen professional Velcro ties specifically for cables, but they tend to be expensive.  Who says they have to have "cable ties" on the package.  Check out Velcro Plant Ties.  They are marketed as plant ties, but they work well on anything.  Just cut off what you need for the project.  At this price, they are the way to go.

Know Before You Go

If you travel by air, you know that airport security lines can either be short or cause you anxiety as you almost miss your flight.  Next time, check the airport security checkpoint wait time at http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html. 

Just enter your airport, date, and travel time. You will know when to arrive at the airport in order to make your flight and not have to spend unnecessarily long time sitting in the terminal.  This site also gives you layout information and other details you will find helpful for your trip.