XStream
Software Launches RapidGuide™ v1.0
XStream's
new Performance Support Technology offers real-time, step-by-step
application guidance and Show Me simulations.
OTTAWA, Canada, April 30, 2004 -
XStream Software Inc., the leading provider of today's unmatched
E-learning, Authoring, and Administration/Tracking technologies,
has released RapidGuide v1.0, a powerful performance
support and guidance technology that enables developers to
create, customize, and deploy instructional guidance sessions
and "Show Me" simulations for any Windows-based application.
While working in a live desktop or web application,
users often require visual, context-sensitive help that cannot
be provided by traditional, static help files. RapidGuide
provides a next-generation method of visually guiding users
through their tasks as they perform them within live software
applications. All information within RapidGuide is organized
as a searchable list of topics and subtopics that users can
access. For each topic and subtopic, the developer captures/records
a set of live steps required to perform a specific task within
the Windows environment and application. The captured session
is automatically generated as both an instructional guidance
file and a simulation file. The developer edits the two files
(by adding text/audio instructions to each captured step)
and then generates the entire session as an output file that
may be played through the RapidViewer player in two (2) different
modes:
- "Guide Me" mode - The user receives instructional
guidance as he/she works with a live application. A sequential
list of browsable text or audio-based instructions is presented
to the user in order to guide him/her through the steps
required to accomplish a specific task within the live
application. For each instruction presented, a supporting
screen snapshot (illustrating the step to be performed)
is provided to aid the user in the performing the live
step.
- "Show Me" mode - The user views a pre-recorded
simulation showing how a specific set of tasks can be performed
within an application. The simulation can either be interactive
(where the user performs mouse and keyboard actions during
the simulation) or non-interactive (where the user does
not perform any actions during the simulation). While the "Guide
Me" mode guides the user as he/she performs real-time tasks
within a live application, the "Show Me" mode plays a pre-recorded "movie" that
shows the user how each step is performed as well as the
result of each step.
In addition to guidance sessions and pre-recorded
simulations, users can access Associated Knowledge Documents
(AKDs), which are documents or files that provide supplementary
information related to a particular topic or subtopic. AKDs
may be any file type, including text files, Word documents,
graphic files, audio files, video files, etc.
"Live application guidance is the most effective
form of e-learning and online help, and RapidGuide can create
this type of guidance more easily and quickly than any other
tool," says Sunil K. Sethi, XStream's President
and CEO.
RapidGuide takes XStream's innovative simulation-authoring
technology to the next level," says Mahendra K. Agrawal, XStream's
Vice President of Technology. "The ability to simultaneously
author and deploy guidance files and multimedia desktop simulations
for any Windows-based application makes RapidGuide a truly
unique e-learning tool unsurpassed by any other technology
currently on the market."
About XStream
XStream Software, a 5x brandon-hall.com
award winner, has designed and developed next-generation,
100% programming-free e-Learning, authoring & tracking
technologies. RapidBuilder® and RapidExam™ are
used for creating interactive Software Simulations, WBT,
Presentations, Assessments, and Certifications. Linux
Simulator™ is used to create interactive software simulations
for Linux-based applications. Performance Analyzer™ is
used for creating Performance-based Evaluations, which measure,
track, and evaluate/test users' performance through software
simulations created for Windows-based applications. RapidGuide™ offers
next-generation learning by creating 'live', step-by-step,
in-application guidance and 'Show Me' simulations. RapidSVG™ is
XStream's vector-based SVG authoring application, which enables
developers to create SVG web sites, graphics, animations,
and other authored content. XStream RapidShare™ is XStream's
web-based, enterprise-wide communication and collaboration
digital workspace, which brings together information, people,
and tools for purposes of working on projects, sharing files
and documents, participating in discussion and chat forums,
and conducting meetings, demos, training/support sessions,
classes, and seminars. On the back end, RapidManager™ provides
full tracking and administration capability for RapidBuilder,
RapidExam, Performance Analyzer, SCORM, and RapidGuide files,
and RapidPortal™ provides browser-based portal accessibility
for complete web-based administration and deployment of RapidBuilder,
RapidExam, Performance Analyzer, SCORM, and RapidGuide files.
XStream's products are in use by thousands of internationally
known clients representing businesses across all market sectors.
For more information, visit www.xstreamsoftware.com or
call 613-731-9443 or send an email to info@xstreamsoftware.com.
|
