I was reading the Crit 07 report and was interested by the part about proposing an IT Symposium "a gathering of IT specialists that can come together and work on a common project – an IT project/infrastructure that will serve the mission as a whole".
I have often day dreamed about what would help us all in YWAM so I have decided to ask this question here: What would you like to see put at peoples fingertips? (Fingertips, forget backend's for now). What should YWAMers have as an IT tool for effective and productive life in the mission?
I await your wishlist. I will write mine after I receive the first comment!
Comments
A Useful Service
For people thinking about doing a DTS to be able to search all of YWAM for DTS (and other UofN schools) by language, by focus, by location, by outreach focus etc etc. This is part of improving the "on-ramp" for YWAM.
This would be a benefit both to bases and to people wanting to serve the Lord.
DTS Search Feature on ywam.org
They have this feature on the www.ywam.org site already. Here is the link:
http://www.ywam.org/Searches/FindDTS.asp
It is dependent on people entering the data into their ywam.org profile. People can select the focus, region, language, location, starting month, outreach country, and a few more.
Bill Hutchison
Reef to Outback
My wish list
I would like to have an Extranet portal that all YWAMers could have as an entry point. We could have serveral layers so that for example we could have an International, National and Base/Team level. Perhaps with a webmail access to a unique YWAM email address...
News could be pushed down appropriately, forums and blogs could happen easily. Perhaps tie it in with U of N records etc.
Given admin at National/Base levels we could have stats at our finger tips on students and staff numbers. We could communicate to staff. We could deliver staff training via the internet (New GENESIS technology extensions!)
A starting point should be a directory service for all YWAMers that would also give a single sign on to all the current websites. The OpenID scheme seems very interesting and many websites can use it plus it looks like gaining Microsoft support.
I think whatever we implement has to be browser based (and browser agnostic too) to close the digital divide and avoid vendor lock in (and simple and effective encryption for those who need it). A project of the size suggested by Crit07 would benefit of in house development perhaps?
Anyway some ramblings...
re: What would help us all?
Here are some more ideas.
- A financial and CRM like software (can be but must not necessarily be browser based) that is available a desktop version for individuals and as server version for bases/communities or families. Well, if a family wants to set up up a server, anyways. This could be similar to TntMPD but of course OS independent. The server version for a base probably would need user management because not anyone should be able to see anything about anyone. E.g. only accounts ministry should have access to the financial part, registrar needs different info that school staff, ministry leaders, etc. need. An individual YWAMmer probably would appreciate a journal kind of something where he can add comments about what he wrote to supporters and friends (fund raising and prayer requests, etc.) and he probably has different needs for the CRM part than a Base would have. All that might require to be build as a basic system with modules that can be added.
Pretty big thing, ey ;)
- A secure email service for workers in countries that don't like christian workers too much. Here I'm thinking about encryption and a VPN connection and help to set it up if required. Access provided via POP3, IMAP and a web mail service, what ever is needed.
- Also I'm wondering if it's possible to set up a service that ppl can surf the net from everywhere without that it would be trackable in closed countries....
- A forum / bulletin board, however you wanna call it. This could be a public platform of course, not YWAM only. Something where ppl could discuss teachings or ask for input for a teaching they are preparing or what ever else, all nicely set up in all sorts of categories with sub-forums. Then, as soon as there are 3 or so commited people, it could be added every language as needed. To grab some vision check the Joomla forum which has an impressive 42 language section at the bottom (plus the big English part above that) about 120000 registered user and coming close to 1Million posts. All that is build with Open Source Software.
- Not every base has a web guy, I guess. So, a CMS that can serve the very basic needs of a just newly started base would probably be handy to have, including a very easy to understand administration area. As the Base is growing or for already bigger Bases with more needs modules could be added which then probably will add more complexity to the administration as well.
- A committed / dedicated YWAM IT Base could offer web hosting e.g. with the above mentioned CMS, including the help to set everything up for those Bases who have no web guy around who could do that. This IT Base could also help other Bases who want to outsource some things, email hosting, groupware, etc.
- What about a IT training school. Well, now that I write that it reminded me of something.... Anyways, a school that would help ppl to learn more about server, networking, web sites, Intranet, some programming of course. There could be tons of stuff included.
- A Wiki for YWAM. What should I say, that came into existence even before I ever spoke with someone about it. Quite a while ago I thought this would be something nice to have but now the YWAM Knowledge Base is already there.
Kinda the same happened with YWAMIT, a gathering place for IT ppl in YWAM. Although my original thought was to have that integrated into the above mentioned forum.
OK, is that enough for now?? *g*
Greetings from the MatriX,
neo
Some more ideas thrown into the pot...
I thought I'd throw in some more ideas to consider... maybe a little more specific...
Donor Manager - My wife & I have been using Donor Manager for several years, & we've really liked how it works. It offers several different reports to help you understand where you stand with different areas. The drawback: It's Windows only (but apparently can be run on Mac with Virtual PC running). This, of course, would just be a solution for the individual or family.
Typo3 CMS - I've mentioned a bit about Typo3 as a cms, & most of that was from my excitement of having newly discovered it when I wrote about it.
Since I started using Typo3 in 2005, I've come to realize some of it's weaknesses...
1) it's admin area & its frontend editing abilities are ok, but for some "green" users, it could feel awkward & confusing.
2) as an administrator, it requires quite a learning curve to really get a grasp on how to begin to effectively use Typo3.
3) it's important to research the right kind of webhost that would adequately support the use of Typo3... some webhosts have a knack for creating super strict permissions within PHP, thus causing some of Typo3's functionalities to not work. This usually happens with shared hosting type webhosts.
Those weaknesses said, here are some of the pros:
1) Typo3 was created by a Christian man from Denmark, so in its very core & philosophy, Typo3 is biblically-based.
2) It's 100% open source, written in PHP with a MySQL database, which means if you are comfortable with PHP & MySQL, then you have 100% control on how you can modify & customize Typo3 from the ground up.
3) It has a massive community of users & developers, so Typo3 will always stay on the cutting edge (one group is looking at an application-like way of editing websites from within Typo3). There are 100's of extensions (plug-ins) available to make enhancing Typo3 sites easy.
4) You can host multiple websites with multiple domains with one installation of Typo3 allowing for separate users/user groups per website (even down to per page).
5) Multiple languages are handled side-by-side per page & very easy to administer.
6) It offers complete separation of tasks & permissions for the administrator/programmer, designer, & content editors/contributors
On the level of enterprise usage, I believe Typo3 is the most logical solution. I think this could be a logical solution for hosting websites for smaller locations, giving them their own website, their own domain, their own logins & their own design. My opinion is that larger bases could afford to host a Typo3 installation that would benefit smaller locations & their need for advertisement & communication which comes from & through a website.
I've yet to see any other open source cms come close to the flexibility & power that I've seen in Typo3. I know of a few YWAM ministries that are currently using Typo3, one of which, based in Norway, is hosting several websites on one installation of Typo3 that are used by missionaries.
Here are a list of YWAM websites that I am aware of that are using Typo3...
Misjon.info
YWAM Restenas
YWAM Dalarna
YWAM Altensteig
and the 4 that I've personally set up...
YWAM Latvia
Valdis Indrišonoks, YWAM musician
YWAM Plzen
Step by Step, my personal website
I'm currently in the beginning stages of working with the new web admin for ywam.eu to convert that to a Typo3 based site, as well.
However, the biggest thing about using Typo3, as with any cms solution, is teamwork. A dedicated group of administrators, programmers, content editors & contributors, & designers need to come together & contribute their expertise.
YWAM Media Server - This is an idea that I started to have after talking with Calvin from CREATE International about the need for quality music for different media productions. Since there is such an abundance of incredible music coming out of YWAM, why couldn't we offer something like iTunes for YWAM use only, where you could download a song or album from YWAM musicians that you would be allowed to use in your media projects (i.e. videos, Powerpoint presentations, etc.)? This could be a low-cost solution to media content creators & also a good way to help support those YWAM musicians.
On a more general note, finding services for media hosting & streaming is very expensive, so I thought that this YWAM Media Server could also offer a backend service to YWAM ministries of hosting & serving media content, much in the same way YouTube or MySpace does, but without the legal hassles of losing your ownership of your media (in the case of YouTube) or simply risking unwanted use of your media (in the case of both YouTube & MySpace). I'm actually not talking about allowing any outside search of media, but simply to host, convert to Flash & serve up media that YWAM ministries could then embed into their websites for a fraction of the cost that a professional, dedicated media server would normally cost just one user.
Anyway, I welcome any feedback to these ideas.... It's fun to dream & to play. Thanks guys for this forum.
Blessings,
Chris Bischoff
YWAM Latvia, Communications
www.ywamlatvia.com
re: Some more ideas thrown into the pot...
Hi.
Just some additional thoughts / comments....
Donor Manager:
I'm aware of Donor Manager and there are actually a few programs more available. But my thought was more towards to having native versions of such a program for all major OS's, which should be better than having them running in a Virtual PC environment. I'm not even sure if I would trust my finances and contacts and all that with such a set up. Besides that, when Virtual PC or what ever ever other such solution is no longer produced then you're kinda screwed....
And all that actually doesn't address the problem if multiple ppl work on the finances, like Bases or what ever other organization, and those strange ppl like me who have their own server at home sitting under their desk. Hmmm, and honestly, I don't see something like happening from any of the existing ones releasing something like that any time soon. I might have missed available solutions, so I'm open to get pointed to them and I also appreciate any other comments on that idea of course.
CMS:
There are many CMS around, smaller ones bigger ones, for all sorts of stuff. But what I really meant was something that is "really" usable for non-techies. With all the existing ones I checked out so far you need to have a minimum level of knowledge. That, with a default set up, already has some typical YWAM Base related sites like Base Info, Vision, Schools, Ministries, Opportunities, Contact, Legal,.... some like this. Then someone can fill in some details in a seriously fool-proof administration area. The idea is to serve those bases who have no internet minded staff around but still give them a tool to they can work with. Then, of course, it's good to have plug-ins available for the growing needs of a Base.
I mean, it's not that I want to force all YWAM to use a CMS built by a group of YWAMers. I want it to be understood as a tool for those who are overwhelmed with Joomla, Drupal, Typo3 or every other CMS that is a bit bigger and more complex from the beginning on.
Then also, if "someone" provides a web hosting service for YWAM those Bases can start there in a trusted YWAM environment with their web site. But that could also provide a all the needs that a Base has that is choosing what ever CMS, like the needs for Typo3.
YWAM Media Server:
This is, how should I say, a very great idea. Actually I thought about something similar a long time ago.
My idea came from the area of music. I always kinda thought it really sucks that if you produce music that you kinda need to go through the music industry or you pretty much on your own. Although I know that there are many Christians (and YWAMers) around that get a lot of their support by selling CDs or of are professional musicians and earn their money through that. But there are probably more ppl then we can think of that just write songs for their church/Base and would not mind at all to release these for free to other churches/Bases.
The basic idea I had was that ppl can sign up and then upload song sheets and ogg/mp3 files of the song and what ever else might be needed. It probably would need some sort of licensing, but if I'm not totally wrong then there is a licensing thing kinda similar to OSS licenses for media stuff existing. I just forgot how exactly it's called.
Other ppl could then potentially comment to the songs and maybe even upload their own recording to the same song. Oh well, did someone say that requires a server with tons of storage? ;)
Well, of course there potentially could be a section where YWAMers who want to sell their music can offer them for purchase, if they don't want to go through the big jungle of the music industry.
BTW, I would like to hear all your comments on my ideas. Even if someone thinks they suck, I'm a big boy ;) But I really would like to hear what others have to say....
Greetings from the MatriX,
neo