XStream
Software Wins an Award in the Software Simulation Shootout
Competition in North America
RapidBuilder® among
the top winners of "Simulation" competition presented by
brandon-hall.com and Online Learning magazine.
OTTAWA, Canada, October 5, 2001 - XStream
Software Inc. announced today that its simulation-authoring
technology, RapidBuilder has won the Bronze Award in
the Software Simulation Shootout competition presented
by brandon-hall.com and Online Learning magazine.
RapidBuilder is XStream's powerful Simulation
Tool that enables any developer to easily build Interactive, Multimedia
Simulations that realistically duplicate the functionality
of the live Windows environment. Developers may record
screen changes and real-time interactions with the Windows
desktop, including mouse clicks, keystrokes, and cursor/mouse
pointer movements. The recorded simulation may then be
enhanced through RapidBuilder's feature-rich multimedia
edit suite. Customization options include provisions for
adding text, graphics, audio files, recorded sound clips,
embedded sound tracks, video, navigational hyperlinks,
links to external files and web pages, mouse pointer animations,
special visual effects, colors, shapes, instruction boxes,
and more. The simulation may then be generated in a variety
of different media formats, including RBX (RapidBuilder's
native file format), EXE, AVI, ASF, MOV, MPEG, and Flash
(SWF). Simulations may be deployed on CD-ROM, over intranets,
and over the Internet as a Flash (SWF) file, as a video
file, or by using the RapidPlayer runtime player and browser
plug-in. In addition, the developer may build RapidBuilder
Projects, which are courses comprising a series of RapidBuilder
simulations (.RBX files) that are linked together. Each
.RBX file represents a lesson containing topics and sub-topics.
Projects may be managed through RapidManager™, the back-end
(SQL Server-based or Oracle-based) administrative management
tool included with RapidBuilder. It enables a system administrator
to control user access to courses as well as track users'
progress through lessons and topics.
From September 29 th to October 2 nd, 2001,
XStream Software's team of representatives were in Los Angeles
for the Online Learning 2001 Conference and Exposition,
where RapidBuilder generated a great deal of interest
from many conference participants and spectators. On October
2 nd, our RapidBuilder team participated in the Software
Simulation Shootout presented by brandon-hall.com and
Online Learning magazine. This fast-paced competition
pitted XStream's RapidBuilder against eleven other
simulation-authoring tools (including Macromedia Authorware™ and Click2Learn ToolBook™)
in a race to build the most effective desktop simulation
in the fastest time. The performance of each software tool
was judged by an audience vote in four different categories,
including Ease of Use, Speed of Development, Robustness of
Simulation (feedback, guidance, etc.), and an Overall Rating.
The scores for all four categories were used to determine
the software's overall average score. Based on the overall
average scores, Gold (1st place), Silver (2nd
place), and Bronze (3rd place) award winners were
determined.
RapidBuilder was awarded the Bronze
Award with an overall average score of 8.07 out of
10. It is also worth noting that RapidBuilder received
the highest rating for development speed, with an average
score of 9.59 out of 10. It is also interesting to note
that the Gold and Silver Award winner scores were only
marginally higher than that received by RapidBuilder.
"We're proud of earning this prestigious
award from brandon-hall.com and Online Learning magazine,
and we're proud of the message it sends," says Sunil K.
Sethi, XStream's President and CEO. "The unique
technology and capabilities of RapidBuilder have clearly
earned it a place among the top simulation-authoring and
e-learning tools in existence today."
About XStream
XStream Software is an innovator in the
computer simulation, eLearning, and knowledge management
domains. Its first two products, RapidBuilder® and RapidExam™,
are already in use by a growing base of clients. RapidBuilder
captures real-time interactions between users and OEM software
applications to create tutorials, product demos, and courseware
with minimum time and effort. A powerful compression technology,
paired with a multimedia edit suite, allows customers to
create high-end, interactive demos and learning tools in
minimal time. RapidExam then enables customers to create
equally fast and feature-rich competency and/or certification
exams - a perfect way to close the training loop. LGP Builder™ is
our Live Guided Practice (LGP) technology that enables developers
to create and provide guidance to users in real-time within
the 'live' applications they are using. Users are provided
step-by-step multi-language instructions (in audio or text
format) along with animated laser pointers that indicate
to the user where they need to perform actions within the
'live' applications they are using.
For more information, visit www.xstreamsoftware.com or
call 613-731-9443 or send an email to info@xstreamsoftware.com.
About brandon-hall.com
The leading authority on e-Learning, Brandon
Hall, Ph.D. is the CEO of brandon-hall.com and author of
the groundbreaking Web-Based Training Cookbook. Since
1992, brandon-hall.com has been providing independent expert
advice in the form of published reports and phone consultations
on the tools of e-Learning: LMS, LCMS, authoring tools, content
providers, and any other tool that helps organizations develop
successful e-Learning solutions. Dr. Hall participates regularly
as a featured speaker in conferences such as ASTD and Online
Learning. He earned his doctorate in educational psychology
and has served on the faculty of San Francisco State University's
Multimedia Studies Program.
About VNU Business Media and VNU, N.V.
OnLine Learning 2001 is produced by VNU
Business Media and VNU Expositions and is presented by Online
Learning Magazine, Training magazine, Presentations magazine,
Creative Training Techniques newsletter, and OnLine
Learning News and OnLine Learning Reviews e-newsletters.
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publishing, trade shows, conferences and information-based
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(formerly Bill Communications and BPI Communications), publisher
of many influential business magazines, including Billboard, Adweek, Brandweek, Mediaweek, The Hollywood Reporter,
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is a subsidiary of VNU, one of the world's leading media
and information companies. Its core activities are marketing
and media information, business information, and directories.
VNU is active in more than 100 countries around the world.
The company employs more than 35,000 people and has annual
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