Flying Start chats to Simon Johnson, Managing Director of Ameeca, to find out more about StoryPhones, the multi-award winning MP3 digital audio learning system for children.
If you are looking for a powerful and practical learning tool to make listening easy and help your children develop their language, communication, listening and literacy skills, then look no further than StoryPhones.
StoryPhones was developed from an original idea created by Early Years teacher Eleanor Johnson. The whole concept of an MP3 digital audio player grew out of her experience of using audio equipment in the classroom. This idea of creating an audio system which did not depend on a power supply, was difficult to break and which offered flexible and adaptable access to listening struck a note with her husband Simon, a lecturer at Durham University, who decided to help develop this fantastic idea into a useable product.
When Eleanor and Simon where developing the concept of StoryPhones, they were still both full time teaching. Capital investment allowed them to focus full time on product development and in 2008 they established an office to move production onto the next stage. Four years down the line, this easy and flexible way of using audio resources can now become part of your children’s everyday learning experience.
So what is StoryPhones we hear you ask?
StoryPhones is far from just a set of headphones. StoryPhones is a set of individual MP3 player headsets, a loud speaking MP3 player with microphone and a USB base unit. With practicality being at the forefront, not only are they very robust and easy to use, there are no more messy wires to worry about as the product is completely powered by rechargeable batteries. All StoryPhones products include the BookShelf software with exclusive access to an educational download store. The possibilities of using StoryPhones to help develop children’s listening, communication and literacy skills are endless.
“My Grandson has some of these in his nursery and he loves them. They are fantastic!”
Margaret Hitchins, Childminder.
Simon Jonhson, Managing Director of the production company Ameeca, tells Flying Start: “Our company was established specifically to develop StoryPhones and the accompanying download store, BookShelf. Ameeca now develops, designs and oversees the manufacture of StoryPhones, the first MP3 digital audio system to be designed for schools. Our office is based in County Durham, the plastic moulding takes place in Newton Aycliffe, Durham and the assembly of the whole product takes place in Cramlington, Northumberland.”
Simon adds: “We originally started with a team of four and now have a team of eight strong working in the office covering various roles including hardware and software design, sales and technical support..”
Ameeca’s original market was mainstream schools and nurseries in the maintained and private sector. Increasingly they are seeing sales from Special Needs schools and parents who have been referred by these schools. Ameeca are also moving into International markets as sales for StoryPhones are beginning to grow overseas, the strongest markets currently being Australia, the UAE and Scandinavian countries. They will soon be shipping to Canada also.
If you are a parent, individual or educational establishment interested in learning more about StoryPhones, please contact Ameeca direct on 0845 652 0906, email info@storyphones.co.uk or visit www.storyphones.co.uk
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