Introducing: Kitty Kalsbeek
I like to let you know that since October, on a voluntary basis, I am part of the wonderful Kefas team. As an enthusiastic user of Kefas in the Baptist Church Lemmer, I have tested some beta features in the past. What always touches me enormously is that our foreign-speaking visitors can read the gospel along in their own language, allowing them to really understand it well. This contact with other cultures has enriched my view of the world and given me more insight into the challenges of refugees in the Netherlands.
In my daily work I work as a project manager at a software development company, and with that knowledge and experience I will contribute to the further development of Kefas. In doing so, I will mainly focus on keeping communication and documentation up-to-date, so that Kefas continues to grow and everyone can take full advantage of this wonderful tool.
Help pages for Kefas
We have started writing help pages, something that was a big wish of our users! These pages will serve as reference tools to help you make the most of Kefas.
Each page will have clear instructions and images, so you can easily see how to use different features. Whether you are new to Kefas or already an experienced user, you will soon be able to view the first help pages and discover how they can support you in using our application. Check out the first pages for yourself now!
Create a Channel outside of Telegram - in beta!
This is a development that is now available for testing in beta: a new functionality that allows you to easily create a channel even outside of Telegram! You can now set up a channel over the Internet where people can read along directly by scanning a QR code or opening a shared link. This allows you to reach a wider audience and makes it easier to quickly create different language versions of your channel.
Easy registration and anonymity
Once signed up, members' identities remain anonymous; therefore, you cannot see who has signed up. This ensures a safe environment. In addition, followers cannot respond to posts, so the focus is entirely on the content you share as a translator.
Why we continue to support Telegram.
While our new feature is very convenient, we continue to support Telegram because of the unique benefits this platform offers. Telegram allows you to create both channels and groups, allowing you to create interaction with your members. In addition, you can see who your members are and have control over who becomes a member of your channel or group by using a private group or channel.
Note: This new feature is separate from the recent turmoil surrounding Telegram in the news. Telegram remains a highly secure platform, and we trust our users can continue to use it without worry.
With these options and the new ability to create a channel outside of Telegram, you can set up a communication environment that fits your needs well!
More flexibility with languages
With the new feature to create a channel outside of Telegram, it is now easier to quickly create different language versions.
We hope this new opportunity helps you spread God's message even more powerfully!
Would you like to help test out our new feature?
Are you interested in helping us test out this functionality in your community? Then get in touch with us via the contact form, and we'll be happy to tell you more about it!
Audio translation - in beta!
Another development, currently available in beta for testing, is audio translation. This feature allows you to not only read along, but also listen to the gospel in your own language. This provides the opportunity for even more people to receive and understand the message.
More than just reading along
This new feature allows users to choose spoken text, making the gospel more accessible to anyone who prefers to listen rather than read. This is especially valuable for people who have difficulty reading or feel more comfortable hearing the spoken language. When the autoplay button is enabled, the texts are played automatically.
With this new feature, we want to spread the message of the gospel more widely and make it more accessible to everyone, regardless of their language ability. We can currently offer it in a few languages, and we would love to hear what language you would prefer so we can take that into consideration!
Would you like to help test out our new feature?
Are you interested in helping us test out this functionality in your community? Then get in touch with us via the contact form, and we'll be happy to tell you more about it!
Speech to Text available to all
As of now, our improved speech-to-text feature is available to everyone for free! With this feature, Kefas captures the spoken word and converts it to text, making the application even easier to use. This is especially useful for users who want to be less dependent on people who can type quickly.
For best results, we recommend connecting your laptop or computer directly to the microphone or tech table, for example via a USB/audio interface. This way you guarantee optimal sound quality and accuracy when converting speech to text.
We also have a combination with an AI assistant available in beta for anyone who wants to try it out. Want to test it out? Then get in touch with us! This powerful assistant ensures that the captured text is converted into good grammatical Dutch.
Easier subscriptions
We have simplified our subscription model. Where you now have a subscription for up to 3, 6 or 9 languages, by November 2024 we will switch to one standard subscription form. This new form will cost €10 per month, with an additional €0.65 per 10,000 characters translated.
We have made this change to offer more flexibility, without having to make a choice about the number of languages in advance. Costs are now calculated automatically and more fairly based on actual usage.
What does this mean for your congregation?
In most cases, the cost to your municipality will be slightly lower than before. Want to get a better understanding of future costs? Then visit our cost calculator!
