While it is good to get the perspectives of going mobile or web with Bible reading, sometimes it’s better to get a view of the implications of the introduction of those technologies from the more tradition end – starting first with the print (paper) Bible, ad then seeing what kinds of technologies can be grafted onto there. If done well, it can be an enhancement. If not, it could end up as just one of those features that’s great for conversation and little else.
When looking at Ricky Cadden’s perspective at the Life Essentials Study Bible, it’s hard not to have both sides of that features discussion play out. Here’s a snippet of what I mean:
…Recently, though, we picked up a new Bible for Christina that offers an interesting balance between my iPad-based Wired magazine and my duct tape-bound study Bible – the Life Essentials Study Bible. It was put together by Gene Getz, and in addition to the normal extra definitions and side-notes that a Study Bible normally includes, he’s put together over 250 hours of video content, hosted it online, and then inserted QR codes throughout the chapters. You can scan the codes to get directly to the appropriate video for that passage, to get some additional video insights that you wouldn’t get by simply reading the words…
What say you to seeing a print Bible include features such as QR codes, short codes, or other methods to sort of embed traditionally screen-only media into them? Ideally, this bible might be best suited for personal or small group study moments, but could a similar application be laid out in a larger setting where keeping the feel of paper in one’s context is just as important as having the ability to use one’s mobile like a magic wand to open up other worlds of content?
Or, would you say this is just temporary, a stop-gap measure keeping luddites happy until everyone is reading or studying from some electronic foundation?