Knowledge Impact Releases Firefly; Powerful Simulation Creation Tool Can Be Used By Novices.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TechLearn 2002

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2002

Knowledge Impact, a leading provider of integrated learning and end user performance support solutions for enterprise applications, today announced the release of Firefly, its next-generation software application simulation creation tool at TechLearn 2002. Drawing on two decades of experience in building effective learning solutions, Knowledge Impact leveraged that expertise to create a scenario-based simulation creation tool that empowers even novice developers to produce amazing results. Firefly insulates the novice developer from scripting or programming and allows them to focus on the task at hand - creating effective and engaging training for the adult learner. Having already created quite a buzz with customers and business partners in its beta release, Firefly is expected to become a significant source of revenue for Knowledge Impact.

While customers' satisfaction levels with Knowledge Impact's solutions have always been high, over the past couple of years many of Knowledge Impact's customers expressed a desire to have the ability to independently maintain and update their training solutions. At the same time, they indicated their dissatisfaction with the lack of existing technologies for creating robust software application simulations. "We listened to our customers," said Mike Merriman, Vice President of Technology Solutions at Knowledge Impact. "And what they wanted was the freedom to easily and efficiently make changes to their training solutions without the hassles of complex and time-consuming technologies. After extensive research and development, we produced Firefly and the response has been extremely positive," said Merriman. "We've been a business partner of Knowledge Impact for two years. During that time we've always been very impressed with the quality and robustness of their simulations," said Mark Eaton Ph.D., Director, Infrastructure and Delivery, Cerner Virtual University Learning Services, at Cerner Corporation. "When Knowledge Impact told us that they decided to market Firefly, we were first in line. Simulations that would take us weeks to develop in other technologies now take hours with Firefly."

Firefly provides a robust, intuitive capture facility to "record" a sequence of actions within an application and a powerful, easy-to-use authoring environment to assemble and edit simulations. Together they comprise an extensible simulation development architecture that is designed to support the most demanding simulation needs while remaining easy enough for a programming novice, subject matter expert, or business process owner to use. Firefly's authoring environment is unrivaled in its capabilities, quality of simulation produced, embedded instructional design methodology, and ease-of-use. The authoring environment also includes a built-in run-time engine for previewing simulations further streamlining the development process. Novice and experienced developers benefit from the intuitive GUI and the automated creation of learning interventions such as user prompts and feedback. By providing a template-like approach to creating training, Firefly enables developers to leverage Knowledge Impact's proven instructional methodology to produce robust scenario-based simulations with unparalleled speed. "Giving training developers the ability to create simulations isn't enough," said Cushing Anderson, Program Director, Learning Services Research, at IDC. "Simulations must be able to support sound instructional design in order to be truly effective in a learning environment. Products that combine the two - software simulation creation and instructional design - are what content developers should be looking for."

In keeping with Knowledge Impact's open design philosophy, captured and authored data is stored in XML format and images are stored in PNG format. Adherence to these industry standards enables greater flexibility in how the data is processed and used. Knowledge Impact's patent-pending technology also allows Firefly simulations to be run with no plug-ins or special software installed on the client machine. "Since Firefly's inception, our number one goal was to create a feature-rich tool that was easy enough for a novice to use," said Annette DiLello, Director of Product Development at Knowledge Impact. "We created a tool for program managers, project sponsors, and their teams that produces high-end application simulations. Now, our customers have the ability to create scenario-based simulations that provide an immersive environment for learning. Firefly simulations have the ability to teach not only software functionality, but the related business process rules and best practices surrounding its use - features lacking in most other simulation creation tools," continued DiLello.

Pricing for Firefly is on a per-developer basis with no fee for the simulation runtime environment. Enterprise licensing is also available. For more information, please contact Knowledge Impact at 1-800-852-1230, [e-mail], or www.kimpact.com.

About Knowledge Impact

Knowledge Impact is a leading provider of blended learning and end-user performance support solutions for enterprise-wide applications such as CRM and ERP. By offering customized learning solutions that incorporate a company's business processes, Knowledge Impact significantly increases the return on investment companies receive from their enterprise applications. For nearly 20 years, Knowledge Impact has been providing solutions across the globe for leading companies and government agencies such as Capital One, Bank of Montreal, Verizon, Telstra, Dell Computer, Xerox, Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Province of British Columbia, and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. The company's offerings include KnowledgeMate(TM) performance support, Web-based training (WBT), computer-based training (CBT), Firefly simulation creation tool, instructor services, and change management services. Knowledge Impact is headquartered in Wayland, MA. For more information, contact Knowledge Impact at 1-800-852-1230 or visit the company's Web site at www.kimpact.com.