The Multimedia Factory: Difference between revisions

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       |acronym=The Multimedia Factory
       |acronym=The Multimedia Factory
       |logo= TMF_Logo.jpg
       |logo= TMF_Logo.jpg
       |project_title=Vision Statement: .. to re-define the tools, methods and purpose of education, in light of relevant social change.
       |project_title=
       |contract_number=
       |contract_number=
       |funding_period=1992-1997
       |funding_period=1992-1997
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       |total_cost=
       |total_cost=
       |partners=
       |partners=
       |website=[http://www.multimediafactory.us Website]
       |website=[http://www.multimediafactory.us www.multimediafactory.us]
}}     
}}     




'''CYBER KIDS''' was a nation-wide social entrepreneurial experiment launched in 1992 in Cyprus by [[Yiannis Laouris]], [[George Vakanas]] and [[Maria Symeonides]]. The Research and Development of its award winning curriculum was done by the [[Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute]]. Within the first five years (1992-1997) 26 computer- learning centers were launched with average of 50-150 students enrolled every year in each location. By 1999, the number of children who benefited from the Cyber Kids curriculum in the 36 Branches exceeded 15,000, which is approximately equal to 20% of the country’s youth population (ages 6-15). CYBER KIDS has also contributed against brain drain by employing a total of 186 young scientists between 1991-1999. More importantly, [[MISnTED Ltd.]], the owner company had a policy of employing teachers from the public educational system as part-timers as a means of contributing to a large-scale reform from within the system.
'''The Multimedia Factory'' was the first multimedia company in Cyprus launched in 1992.
 
It was founded as a subsidiary of [[MIDnTED Ltd.]] with [[Yiannis Laouris]], [[George Vakanas]] and [[Maria Symeonides]] also as shareholders. TMF was serving also [[CYBER KIDS]] as a technology group working with kids ages 8-12 to develop their projects into final commercial products. [[Dinos Georgiades]] and [[Stelios Stylianou]] have contributed with many ideas and products: Dinos supported [[CYBER KIDS]] students to develop professional versions of their projects and sell them through the factory. Stelios, together with George, led the development of multimedia information kiosks placed at airports, museums and ports to inform people about the Cyprus problem and the Turkish occupation.
 
==Pioneer in professional Multimedia==
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Product
! Period
|-
| Animations for Institute of Technology
| 1993
|-
| Multimedia package for Electric Authority
| 1994
|-
| Educational Multimedia Game for Electric Authority
| 1997
|-
| Occupied Cyprus; 6-language Multimedia Information System (at airports and museums)
| 1997-1998
|-
| Hotel Information System "HISystem"
| 1994
|}
 
==Educational Software development==
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
| Quick Story Gold
| 1996-98
|-
| Draw & Paint
| 1996-98
|-
| Kids' Paint
| 1996-98
|-
| Animals
| 1996-98
|-
| Esops Fables
| 1996-98
|-
| Fairy Tales
| 1996-98
|-
| 1821 Heros
| 1996-98
|}
 
==Educational Software development: “Factories for Research Projects”==
{| class="wikitable"
! Product
! Period
|-
| CD Factory
| 2002
|-
| Calculator Factory
| 2002
|-
| Browser Factory
| 2002
|-
| Emailer Factory
| 2002
|-
| Fairy Tales Factory
| 2002
|}
 
 


==The Founders==
==The Founders==
<gallery perrow="3">
<gallery perrow="4">
File: YiannisLaouris_CYBERKIDS.GIF |[[Yiannis Laouris]]
File: YiannisLaouris_CYBERKIDS.GIF |[[Yiannis Laouris]]
File: MariaSymeonides_CYBERKIDS.png |[[Maria Symeonides]]
File: MariaSymeonides_CYBERKIDS.png |[[Maria Symeonides]]
File: GeorgeVakanas_CYBERKIDS.GIF|[[George Vakanas]]
File: GeorgeVakanas_CYBERKIDS.GIF|[[George Vakanas]]
File: Dinos_Georgiades.png|[[Dinos Georgiades]]
</gallery>
</gallery>
==The "profitable dream" concept==
CYBER KIDS was based on a concept coined by its creators then called the "profitable dream":
* They envisioned that introducing advanced computer technology in the lives of a critical number of young children using an educationally relevant and socially responsible, peace-enhancing curriculum would allow them to promote creativity, innovation, imagination, and problem solving abilities, thus “transcending” the country’s educational and political life and move the new generation a decade ahead.
The project was founded on a well-defined vision statement:
* ... to re-define the tools, methods and purpose of education, in light of relevant social change.
==Company evolution and death==
CYBER KIDS was an internationally registered trademark of the mother company, [[MISnTED: Management Information Systems & Technology Development]]. The three founding members, [[Yiannis Laouris]], [[George Vakanas]] and [[Maria Symeonides] donated 30% of their total shares to the [[Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute]] in order to fund its socially responsible research operations. In addition, [[MISnTED: Management Information Systems & Technology Development]] provided yearly grants to [[Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute]] for research. The project was originally funded by the partners' and by a CY £44,000 government loan. All key people were invited to join as partners: [[Dinos Georgiades]], [[Evros Alexandrou]], [[Harry Anastasiou]], and all employees were given shares totalling to £250,000 of value.
In 1996, the [[Cyprus Development Bank]] became a partner with 10% in the Cyprus (mother) company and 30% in the Greek subsidiary, investing £100,000 and £300,000 respectively. It was under the leadership of the [[Cyprus Development Bank]], that in 2000 CYBER KIDS merged with 11 other companies to form a public, high-tech company known as [[CYBER GROUP]]. Unfortunately, the crash of the stock markets in combination with a number of unconstitutional laws passed repetitively by the Cyprus Parliament allegedly to "protect" the rights of investors, forced CYBER KIDS to bankruptcy along with more than 100 other entrepreneurial companies.


== The Multimedia Factory in the Media==
== The Multimedia Factory in the Media==
CYBER KIDS enjoyed substantial visibility from many media.
The Multimedia Factory  enjoyed substantial visibility from many media.


<gallery perrow="6">
<gallery perrow="6">
Line 52: Line 114:


==Related Publications==
==Related Publications==
* Stylianou S., Laouris, Y, & El-Haddad, C. (1993). Multimedia, A new tool to help the dyslexic. First Science and Innovation Fair. Cyprus.
* Vakanas, G., Laouris, Y., Symeonidou, M., Loizou, E., Stylianou, S., Kouppe, P., and Georgiades, D. (1994). Mythology as a rich and meaningful context for integrated learning of literacy, numeracy and scientific inference: New possibilities. In J. Wright & D. Benzie (Eds.), Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Proceedings of the IFIP TC3/WG3. 5 International Working Conference on Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 June - 1 July, 1994. IFIP Transactions A-58 Elsevier 1994, pp. 173-179.
* Vakanas, G., Laouris, Y., Symeonidou, M., Loizou, E., Stylianou, S., Kouppe, P., and Georgiades, D. (1994). Mythology as a rich and meaningful context for integrated learning of literacy, numeracy and scientific inference: New possibilities. In J. Wright & D. Benzie (Eds.), Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Proceedings of the IFIP TC3/WG3. 5 International Working Conference on Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 June - 1 July, 1994. IFIP Transactions A-58 Elsevier 1994, pp. 173-179.
 
* Laouris, Y. (1995). Towards a new Logo based on principles of object oriented and parallel processing. Educational Conference at Intercollege. Cyprus.
 
* Laouris, Y., & Loizou, E. (1995). Principles of friendly screen design and its psycho emotional influences. Educational Conference at Intercollege. Cyprus.
* Laouris, Y., & Symeonides, M. (1996). The computer in service of science subjects in elementary schools. First Cyprus Pedagogical Institute Conference 27/1//96, Cyprus.
* Laouris, Y., & Makris, P. (1996). The role of computers in Dyslexia. First Cyprus Pedagogical Institute Conference 27/1//96, Cyprus.
* Laouris, Y., & El-Haddad, C. (1997). The use of electronic story boards in the assessment of retention and learning attributes. 2nd Congress of the Cyprus Society of Psychiatrists, Cyprus.
* Laouris, Y., & Makris, P (1997). A new computerized approach in the study of dyslexia using simple geometrical drawings on the computer. 2nd Congress of the Cyprus Society of Psychiatrists, Cyprus.
* Laouris, Y., (1997). Introducing children in OOP concepts using an interactive video game simulation. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.
* Laouris, Y., Minaidou, D., & El-Haddad, C. (1997). Computer interface for studying letter, word and pattern recognition strategies when interacting with computer screens. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.
* Laouris, Y, & Symeonides, M. (1997). Thumbnail representations in modern operating systems and other computer environments: Their effect on human machine interactions. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.




[[Category:Affiliated Business Projects]]
[[Category:Affiliated Business Projects]]
[[Category:High-tech Companies]]

Latest revision as of 05:16, 27 April 2018


The Multimedia Factory
The Multimedia Factory
Funding Period 1992-1997
Website www.multimediafactory.us



'The Multimedia Factory was the first multimedia company in Cyprus launched in 1992.

It was founded as a subsidiary of MIDnTED Ltd. with Yiannis Laouris, George Vakanas and Maria Symeonides also as shareholders. TMF was serving also CYBER KIDS as a technology group working with kids ages 8-12 to develop their projects into final commercial products. Dinos Georgiades and Stelios Stylianou have contributed with many ideas and products: Dinos supported CYBER KIDS students to develop professional versions of their projects and sell them through the factory. Stelios, together with George, led the development of multimedia information kiosks placed at airports, museums and ports to inform people about the Cyprus problem and the Turkish occupation.

Pioneer in professional Multimedia

Product Period
Animations for Institute of Technology 1993
Multimedia package for Electric Authority 1994
Educational Multimedia Game for Electric Authority 1997
Occupied Cyprus; 6-language Multimedia Information System (at airports and museums) 1997-1998
Hotel Information System "HISystem" 1994

Educational Software development

Name Period
Quick Story Gold 1996-98
Draw & Paint 1996-98
Kids' Paint 1996-98
Animals 1996-98
Esops Fables 1996-98
Fairy Tales 1996-98
1821 Heros 1996-98

Educational Software development: “Factories for Research Projects”

Product Period
CD Factory 2002
Calculator Factory 2002
Browser Factory 2002
Emailer Factory 2002
Fairy Tales Factory 2002


The Founders

The Multimedia Factory in the Media

The Multimedia Factory enjoyed substantial visibility from many media.

  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg35.jpg
  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg36.jpg
  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg37.jpg
  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg38.jpg
  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg39.jpg
  • CK InMags1994 ToPaidi Nov pg41.jpg


Related Publications

  • Stylianou S., Laouris, Y, & El-Haddad, C. (1993). Multimedia, A new tool to help the dyslexic. First Science and Innovation Fair. Cyprus.
  • Vakanas, G., Laouris, Y., Symeonidou, M., Loizou, E., Stylianou, S., Kouppe, P., and Georgiades, D. (1994). Mythology as a rich and meaningful context for integrated learning of literacy, numeracy and scientific inference: New possibilities. In J. Wright & D. Benzie (Eds.), Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Proceedings of the IFIP TC3/WG3. 5 International Working Conference on Exploring a New Partnership: Children, Teachers and Technology, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 26 June - 1 July, 1994. IFIP Transactions A-58 Elsevier 1994, pp. 173-179.
  • Laouris, Y. (1995). Towards a new Logo based on principles of object oriented and parallel processing. Educational Conference at Intercollege. Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., & Loizou, E. (1995). Principles of friendly screen design and its psycho emotional influences. Educational Conference at Intercollege. Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., & Symeonides, M. (1996). The computer in service of science subjects in elementary schools. First Cyprus Pedagogical Institute Conference 27/1//96, Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., & Makris, P. (1996). The role of computers in Dyslexia. First Cyprus Pedagogical Institute Conference 27/1//96, Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., & El-Haddad, C. (1997). The use of electronic story boards in the assessment of retention and learning attributes. 2nd Congress of the Cyprus Society of Psychiatrists, Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., & Makris, P (1997). A new computerized approach in the study of dyslexia using simple geometrical drawings on the computer. 2nd Congress of the Cyprus Society of Psychiatrists, Cyprus.
  • Laouris, Y., (1997). Introducing children in OOP concepts using an interactive video game simulation. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.
  • Laouris, Y., Minaidou, D., & El-Haddad, C. (1997). Computer interface for studying letter, word and pattern recognition strategies when interacting with computer screens. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.
  • Laouris, Y, & Symeonides, M. (1997). Thumbnail representations in modern operating systems and other computer environments: Their effect on human machine interactions. IEE CONF ABSTRACTS 1997 (Cyprus) Proc., p. 00.
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