Typing Tutor 12 and Typing Tutor Junior Interactive Learning CD-ROMs

Introduction
Typing Tutor, a flagship product of Knowledge Adventure (purchased by Simon and Schuster, Inc.), is a best-selling product in the category of self-help software.
Simon and Schuster, Inc. (a subsidiary of Viacom Inc, a premier media company) is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, providing consumers worldwide with a diverse range of quality books and multimedia products spanning a wide variety of genres and formats.

Problem
Simon and Schuster, Inc. wanted to upgrade its existing Typing Tutor version 10 and introduce a similar product for children. A new theme had to be developed for children's edition while the Typing Tutor 10 upgrade required the use of applied art. Both the products aim to improve their users' typing skills using specifically designed lessons and interactive games at different levels of expertise. The client also wanted to add a feature where the user can save his or her profile on the internet and access it from anywhere.

Risks/Challenges
The biggest hurdle in this project was to develop two highly efficient cross-platform multimedia products that would be at par with their competitor software products. Typing Tutor Junior (for children) had to be developed using a unique and original theme for better market positioning. Furthermore, an addition of sixteen new flash games were required to be added to the software to make the learning experience more enjoyable. Varying network editions (5 users, 10 users, 25 users) were also required for both the products with a software architecture that would support easy localization at the client's end.

Solution
Our efforts led to the development of "Typing Tutor version 12", a successor to the "Typing Tutor version 10", and a new product "Typing Tutor Junior for children", based on a science-fiction theme, with a 3D environment. These products aim to help the users improve their typing skills using specifically designed lessons and interactive games at different levels of expertise. The product is based on the "Typing Tutor version 10". While storyboarding the "Typing Tutor Junior", a unique floating character was designed to assist in navigating through the software, making the product more user-friendly, appealing and fun. The interactive game section includes sixteen fun-filled interactive side-scrolled games designed specifically for children, which helps them improve their typing while having fun. The product was designed to work across platforms in both the PC as well as the Macintosh environment.

The main features of the product are:

• Platform independence (The product could be run on
   Windows as well as Mac OS
• Intuitive GUI with rich graphics
• Smooth screen transition even on low end PCs
• Profile Saving - The user can save his or her profile
  either on the web or on the machine. This enables the
  user to continue lessons from the last point.
• Database sharing across Mac and PC
• Printable progress reports and charts
• Sixteen configurable games to improve typing -The
  user can configure levels and types of words for
  practicing. The words shown in games are in sync with
  the lesson the user is practicing.

The products are available in market with four editions:
• Desktop Edition
• Network Edition (5 users, 10 users and 25 users)

Environment
VB 6.0, SQL Server 7.0, Realbasic 3.0 for MAC, Access 2000, Install Shield, Macromedia Flash 5.0, Photoshop 5.0