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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

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Users can find themselves racing a virtual car by accurately typing words that appear on the screen. The program also includes typing drills that present users with passages of text to type out, which provides a comprehensive overview of their progress. Successful completion of lessons and tests can
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premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, which investigates the origin of Mavis Beacon. The creators of the film discovered that the image of a corporate-attired Black woman on the software packaging was not of someone named Mavis Beacon, but rather a Haitian model named Renee L'Esperance. She was
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paid $ 500 for posing for the marketing photo, wasn't involved in the development or the sales of the software, and did not share in any of the presumably significant profits generated by the product. Ms. L'Esperance herself neither appears in nor is directly quoted in the documentary.
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has undergone numerous iterations. The 2011 Ultimate Mac Edition by Software MacKiev introduced two-player competitive typing network games, integration with iTunes, Dvorak keyboard support, practice typing song lyrics, RSS news feeds, and classic novels. In 2021,
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Amiga Format's Paul Tyrrell praised its user-friendly design. Nick Veitch of CU Amiga noted that the program was more interesting than traditional educational packages.
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In 1999, the series had sold over six million copies. In 2000, two products from the franchise were on the Top Selling Educational Software list.
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The program's early versions supported both the traditional QWERTY keyboard layout and the alternative Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout.
439:...One of Mr. Worthington's earliest ventures was Software Toolworks, one of the first highly successful consumer software companies... 458: 731: 712: 758: 662:"'Seeking Mavis Beacon' Director Jazmin Jones Investigates the Story of the World's Most Famous and Fictitious Typing Teacher" 1310: 490: 849: 821: 559: 1305: 605: 1300: 973: 927: 17: 587: 1320: 1212: 892: 686: 107: 193:, the program aimed to enhance users' typing skills through a series of interactive lessons and games. 222:, a chess simulator. Norm Worthington and Mike Duffy also played a role in the program's development. 1285: 1270: 1039: 948: 897: 1315: 1229: 907: 842: 515:"Mavis Beacon was the top typing teacher in the US before she vanished. The twist? She wasn't real" 226: 196: 31: 1290: 1280: 1184: 999: 877: 1330: 1090: 213: 190: 78: 1049: 1044: 1019: 882: 803: 1275: 1239: 344: 182: 154: 8: 963: 953: 835: 254: 635: 571: 495:... I was one of three programmers who designed and created the perennial software hits 48: 978: 958: 872: 367: 235: 139: 1054: 1148: 917: 912: 466: 323: 132: 785: 229:
was that of Haitian-born model Renee L'Esperance. The name "Mavis" was derived from
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during its early years, played a role in creating the persona of Mavis Beacon.
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technology writer Peter Lewis notes its potential to improve typing skills.
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is an entirely fictional character, created for marketing purposes.
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magazine's review in 1989 supports the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard.
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series are credited with being some of the progenitors of the
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Application software program designed to teach touch typing
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was described as a "well-polished program" by Superkids.
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genre of video games, typically inventive, low-budget
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Norman Worthington: Executive Profile & Biography
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Founded by Les Crane, Walt Bilofsky, and Mike Duffy,
459:"Next They'll Say Betty Crocker Isn't Real, Either" 560:Take A Deep Dive Into Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! 1262: 713:"PERSONAL COMPUTERS; Feedback In Typing Program" 843: 729: 452: 450: 448: 446: 636:"Amiga Reviews: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing" 1245:The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog 572:Disk tutorial * £29.99 * Software Toolworks 456: 358:result in the achievement of certificates. 1326:Video games developed in the United States 850: 836: 443: 756: 679: 512: 457:Biersdorfer, J. D. (December 31, 1998). 253: 723: 630: 628: 626: 582: 580: 538: 508: 506: 225:The original photograph used to depict 14: 1263: 588:"Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing on Steam" 539:MACKLIN, William (November 19, 1995). 513:Michallon, Clémence (March 14, 2022). 298:Distributions of the software include 262:featuring car racing (Windows version) 831: 711:Lewis, Peter H. (November 17, 1987). 710: 382:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Version 5 757:Carpenter, Nicole (April 18, 2019). 659: 623: 577: 503: 822:An Encore of Sorts for Mavis Beacon 266:Since its initial release in 1987, 24: 1296:Children's educational video games 815: 759:"Typing games are having a moment" 499:and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing... 25: 1342: 779: 660:Lang, Brent (January 22, 2024). 640:www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com 291:was in the fourth position, and 289:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 10.0 277:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020 47: 857: 750: 704: 653: 293:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 5.0 730:Randall, Neil (January 1989). 598: 565: 553: 532: 484: 428: 342:In 2024, a documentary titled 337: 246: 13: 1: 974:Sholes and Glidden typewriter 422: 207: 1311:The Software Toolworks games 928:Underwood Typewriter Company 361: 233:, the lead vocalist for the 7: 1224:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 1213:Boston Typewriter Orchestra 893:Imperial Typewriter Company 805:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 796:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 787:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 410: 352: 268:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 189:. Released in late 1987 by 178:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 90:; 37 years ago 41:Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 10: 1347: 791:(Windows and Mac editions) 202: 185:program designed to teach 29: 1203: 1157: 1116: 1073: 992: 949:Blickensderfer typewriter 941: 898:Oliver Typewriter Company 865: 491:Walt Bilofsky's Home Page 387: 160: 148: 138: 122: 118: 106: 102: 84: 72: 58: 46: 1230:Repetitive strain injury 908:Royal Typewriter Company 282: 32:Mavis Beacon (character) 1185:Speech-to-text reporter 1000:Lucien Stephen Crandall 878:Commodore International 610:www.washingtonpost.com 592:store.steampowered.com 493:- Software Publisher, 263: 241:The Software Toolworks 214:The Software Toolworks 191:The Software Toolworks 79:The Software Toolworks 1306:Encore Software games 1050:Lyman Cornelius Smith 1045:James Fields Smathers 1020:Rasmus Malling-Hansen 883:E. Remington and Sons 732:"Mavis Makes It Easy" 257: 1301:Classic Mac OS games 1240:Speed typing contest 824:, The New York Times 345:Seeking Mavis Beacon 183:application software 1030:John Jonathon Pratt 964:Hansen Writing Ball 954:Data Recall Diamond 798:by Software MacKiev 295:was ranked eighth. 43: 1321:Typing video games 1040:Christopher Sholes 979:Olivetti Valentine 959:Hammond Typewriter 800:(Mac OS X edition) 717:The New York Times 463:The New York Times 368:The New York Times 264: 216:was known for its 60:Original author(s) 39: 1258: 1257: 1149:Typewriter eraser 993:Prominent figures 691:www.superkids.com 324:Microsoft Windows 258:A typing game in 174: 173: 64:Norm Worthington, 16:(Redirected from 1338: 1286:Apple IIGS games 1271:1987 video games 1175:Data entry clerk 1129:Correction fluid 1035:Clarence Seamans 1005:Frank Haven Hall 852: 845: 838: 829: 828: 774: 773: 771: 769: 754: 748: 747: 745: 743: 727: 721: 720: 708: 702: 701: 699: 697: 683: 677: 676: 674: 672: 657: 651: 650: 648: 646: 632: 621: 620: 618: 616: 602: 596: 595: 584: 575: 569: 563: 557: 551: 550: 536: 530: 529: 527: 525: 510: 501: 488: 482: 481: 479: 477: 454: 441: 432: 219:Chessmaster 2000 170: 167: 124:Operating system 98: 96: 91: 51: 44: 38: 21: 1346: 1345: 1341: 1340: 1339: 1337: 1336: 1335: 1316:Typing software 1261: 1260: 1259: 1254: 1205: 1199: 1153: 1144:Typewriter desk 1112: 1081:Keyboard layout 1069: 1065:Ettore Sottsass 1055:Samuel W. Soulé 988: 937: 861: 856: 818: 816:Further reading 782: 777: 767: 765: 755: 751: 741: 739: 728: 724: 709: 705: 695: 693: 685: 684: 680: 670: 668: 658: 654: 644: 642: 634: 633: 624: 614: 612: 604: 603: 599: 586: 585: 578: 570: 566: 558: 554: 537: 533: 523: 521: 519:The Independent 511: 504: 497:The Chessmaster 489: 485: 475: 473: 455: 444: 433: 429: 425: 413: 390: 364: 355: 340: 285: 249: 210: 205: 164: 114: 94: 92: 89: 85:Initial release 67: 65: 54: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1344: 1334: 1333: 1328: 1323: 1318: 1313: 1308: 1303: 1298: 1293: 1291:Atari ST games 1288: 1283: 1281:Apple II games 1278: 1273: 1256: 1255: 1253: 1252: 1247: 1242: 1237: 1232: 1227: 1220: 1215: 1209: 1207: 1206:health aspects 1201: 1200: 1198: 1197: 1192: 1187: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1161: 1159: 1155: 1154: 1152: 1151: 1146: 1141: 1136: 1134:Erasing shield 1131: 1126: 1120: 1118: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1110: 1105: 1104: 1103: 1098: 1093: 1088: 1077: 1075: 1071: 1070: 1068: 1067: 1062: 1060:Kyota Sugimoto 1057: 1052: 1047: 1042: 1037: 1032: 1027: 1022: 1017: 1015:Carlos Glidden 1012: 1010:James Densmore 1007: 1002: 996: 994: 990: 989: 987: 986: 981: 976: 971: 966: 961: 956: 951: 945: 943: 939: 938: 936: 935: 930: 925: 920: 915: 910: 905: 900: 895: 890: 885: 880: 875: 869: 867: 863: 862: 855: 854: 847: 840: 832: 826: 825: 817: 814: 813: 812: 801: 792: 781: 780:External links 778: 776: 775: 749: 722: 703: 678: 652: 622: 597: 576: 564: 552: 531: 502: 483: 442: 426: 424: 421: 420: 419: 412: 409: 389: 386: 363: 360: 354: 351: 339: 336: 284: 281: 248: 245: 236:Staple Singers 209: 206: 204: 201: 172: 171: 162: 158: 157: 152: 146: 145: 144:cross-platform 142: 136: 135: 126: 120: 119: 116: 115: 112: 110: 108:Stable release 104: 103: 100: 99: 86: 82: 81: 76: 70: 69: 66:Walt Bilofsky, 62: 56: 55: 52: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1343: 1332: 1331:Windows games 1329: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1319: 1317: 1314: 1312: 1309: 1307: 1304: 1302: 1299: 1297: 1294: 1292: 1289: 1287: 1284: 1282: 1279: 1277: 1274: 1272: 1269: 1268: 1266: 1251: 1248: 1246: 1243: 1241: 1238: 1236: 1233: 1231: 1228: 1226: 1225: 1221: 1219: 1218:Etaoin shrdlu 1216: 1214: 1211: 1210: 1208: 1202: 1196: 1193: 1191: 1188: 1186: 1183: 1181: 1178: 1176: 1173: 1171: 1168: 1166: 1163: 1162: 1160: 1156: 1150: 1147: 1145: 1142: 1140: 1137: 1135: 1132: 1130: 1127: 1125: 1122: 1121: 1119: 1115: 1109: 1106: 1102: 1099: 1097: 1094: 1092: 1089: 1087: 1084: 1083: 1082: 1079: 1078: 1076: 1072: 1066: 1063: 1061: 1058: 1056: 1053: 1051: 1048: 1046: 1043: 1041: 1038: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 997: 995: 991: 985: 982: 980: 977: 975: 972: 970: 969:IBM Selectric 967: 965: 962: 960: 957: 955: 952: 950: 947: 946: 944: 940: 934: 931: 929: 926: 924: 921: 919: 916: 914: 911: 909: 906: 904: 901: 899: 896: 894: 891: 889: 886: 884: 881: 879: 876: 874: 871: 870: 868: 866:Manufacturers 864: 860: 853: 848: 846: 841: 839: 834: 833: 830: 823: 820: 819: 811: 807: 806: 802: 799: 797: 793: 790: 788: 784: 783: 764: 760: 753: 737: 733: 726: 718: 714: 707: 692: 688: 682: 667: 663: 656: 641: 637: 631: 629: 627: 611: 607: 601: 593: 589: 583: 581: 573: 568: 561: 556: 548: 547: 546:Seattle Times 542: 535: 520: 516: 509: 507: 500: 498: 492: 487: 472: 468: 464: 460: 453: 451: 449: 447: 440: 437:, Bloomberg, 436: 431: 427: 418: 415: 414: 408: 406: 402: 398: 394: 385: 383: 378: 376: 375: 370: 369: 359: 350: 347: 346: 335: 333: 329: 325: 321: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 296: 294: 290: 280: 278: 274: 269: 261: 256: 252: 244: 242: 238: 237: 232: 231:Mavis Staples 228: 223: 221: 220: 215: 200: 198: 194: 192: 188: 184: 180: 179: 169: 163: 159: 156: 153: 151: 147: 143: 141: 137: 134: 130: 127: 125: 121: 117: 111: 109: 105: 101: 87: 83: 80: 77: 75: 71: 63: 61: 57: 50: 45: 42: 37: 33: 19: 1250:Touch typing 1223: 1222: 1204:Cultural and 1190:Stenographer 1170:Audio typist 1124:Carbon paper 923:Smith Corona 918:Silver Seiko 804: 795: 786: 768:September 9, 766:. 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Index

Mavis Beacon
Mavis Beacon (character)
1987 box art for Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
Original author(s)
Developer(s)
The Software Toolworks
Stable release
Operating system
macOS
Windows
Platform
License
Proprietary
mavisbeacon.com
application software
touch typing
The Software Toolworks
Mavis Beacon
The Software Toolworks
Chessmaster 2000
Mavis Beacon
Mavis Staples
Staple Singers
A screenshot from the Window version of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing showing a typing game that features car racing
Encore, Inc.
MS-DOS
Apple II
Commodore 64
Apple IIGS
Atari ST

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