Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

Developer(s)	The Software Toolworks (now part of Broderbund)
Stable release	20 (cross-platform)
Operating system	Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
Development status	Active
License	Proprietary
Website	[1]

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a Application software program for teaching touch typing. The program was initially released in late 1987 by The Software Toolworks, and has been published regularly ever since. Mavis Beacon is currently published by Encore Software and is available throughout retail. Version 5 supported both QWERTY and the alternative Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout, though more recent versions support only QWERTY. Earlier versions were made for Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari 400/800 (version 1 only), Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Mac OS, Windows, PalmOS (version 16), and Amiga systems. The current Windows and Mac versions are published by Brøderbund. The program includes a number of speed tests and constantly tracks the user's words-per-minute typing speed. It also includes a number of typing games; games of some sort have been included since the first release. (The 2008 Edition for Mac OS X, published by Software MacKiev, also includes two-player competitive typing network games.) A certificate of achievement can be printed by the user upon the completion of tests. These certificates allow students to see their best typing abilities along with the areas that truly need some help.

This program is also used in many schools and homes to improve typing skills.

Contents 1 Mavis Beacon 2 In Popular Culture 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Mavis Beacon

"Mavis Beacon" is not a real person. The original photo of Mavis Beacon was of a retired Caribbean-born fashion model named Renee Lesperance who was discovered in 1985 by Les Crane, the former talk-show host, while he shopped at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Crane, who was then a partner in Software Toolworks, invented the name. Her first name was taken from Mavis Staples, lead vocalist for the Staple Singers, and from beacon, as in a light to guide the way.^[1]

[edit] In Popular Culture

• Mavis Beacon was mentioned in the U.S. version of the TV series The Office by the character Jim while talking to Pam about how fast she types.
• Actor Josh Hartnett said he used Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing to teach himself to type in preparing to play a journalist in the movie Resurrecting the Champ.^[2]
• Mavis Beacon is the mascot of internet forum The Party.

[edit] External links

• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing by Broderbund (Windows and Mac editions)

[edit] References