Computer program designed to raise missions awareness 

By CHAD KREIGER

CNNW reporting intern

    BEAVERTON-- The producers of a widely used Internet access technology have announced the development of a computer program designed to raise awareness of Christian mission efforts worldwide.

      Veicon Technology Inc., located inBeaverton, has developed Missions Windows, nicknamed “Mindows.” Chong Lee, executive vice president of Veicon Technology Inc., and Tim Brewer are the masterminds behind this project, which aims to promote missionary support and communication.

      Primarily designed for church facilities, this computer program is designed to end what Lee calls “static information” regarding the status of missions activities worldwide. Mindows computer hardware allows individuals to click on different buttons that link to any particular church homepage, calendars, missionary events, Internet access and e-mail access. To follow the progress of any particular missionary, all an individual must do is select the nation where the missionary is stationed and then select the name of the missionary to learn the latest about his or her work.

      Formatted with simple links that lead to e-mail addresses, this program allows straightforward, in-stant communication be-tween missionaries and other mission agencies and organizations, according to Lee. As opposed to writing down addresses off a church bulletin board, which can easily be misplaced, Mindows provides instant e-mail address links, which simplifies the process of communication.

      With church bulletin boards regarding missionary status often difficult to update on a regular basis, Mindows allows church members to receive immediate feedback from missionaries. The computer program allows newsletters to be posted for each missionary. Currently, the team that developed Mindows is devising a user-friendly archive that allows church members to read past missionary newsletters. Often, church bulletin boards become cluttered with information, but this program provides a more organized approach to following the progress of a church missionary.

      Although this program is capable of being performed on a PC, it is designed to be used in a public domain on a non-PC terminal with a built-in virus protection. These features make the system less susceptible to inappropriate use and destructive computer bugs and viruses. The cost of this hardware includes a $195 upfront installation, set-up and activation fee and an approximate $99 monthly fee for the typical terminal hardware and ongoing service fees.

      The technology for this program was developed about five years ago, when Veicon introduced the “V-link.” The original purpose of the V-link was to allow users to surf the Internet and access e-mail accounts through the sliding of a credit card, which allows individuals to purchase allotted amounts of Internet time. This technology was first available to hospitals, libraries, hotels and coffee shops, but is now being applied to churches and mission support groups.

      The overall concept for Mindows was developed nearly one and a half years ago. Although the project was complete two months ago, the program continues to undergo improvements to enhance usability and efficiency.

      Veicon is a 10-employee company that has experienced steady growth since the patent of its V-link. From 1999 through 2001, the company grew by 70 percent because of its concept of a low-cost, low maintenance terminal hard ware. Using the same concepts in application to missionary functions, Veicon hopes to succeed in bringing about a greater awareness for missionary status and communication.

      To view a sample of Mindows using fictitious missionaries and data, visit www.veicon.com/Mindows/start_mindows.html.