- #Mavis beacon teaches typing review full#
- #Mavis beacon teaches typing review software#
- #Mavis beacon teaches typing review code#
Accuracy, speed, and % completion are shown as real-time meters to the left of the screen. The program is user-friendly at its best: you can choose to skip lesson, play a fun typing game (3D racing), or read the vast amount of well-written on-line help and tutorial.
4-color CGA graphics doesn't hamper the game's appeal at all, as it's not only adequate, but surprisingly very pleasant: you see all the keys clearly, and there is are "ghost" hands that track your typing in real-time.
#Mavis beacon teaches typing review software#
The program can be tailored to differing age groups and even has support for learning the ten-key number pad.Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing from Software Toolworks is a revolutionary typing program that spawned many sequels and a host of imitators. There's a lot to learn and a lot of practice modes.
On the whole, Mavis Beacon is a decent product. This isn't a problem while copying on-screen text, but when using dictation mode where the only prompt is auditory, those not used to American spelling may be confused. One of the first sentences in the practice text refuses to advance until 'catalog' is entered. The other problem with dictation is the program's insistence on using American spelling. Some texts can also be dictated, which is a useful addition, though we felt there should have been more.
#Mavis beacon teaches typing review code#
In addition to typing out standard text, the user can opt for HTML code and even lists of emoticons as practice documents. Here the program provides a near endless list of documents in various formats that can be typed against the clock. Practice mode is one of the most useful features. That said, entertaining as they are, their longevity is doubtful. Another is a lesson in genetic engineering, with various mutated animals appearing depending on which words the user types. One of our favourites was undersea karaoke, complete with a frenzied dancing crab that does a jig whenever you correctly match the keys. But once you get past the first few, things liven up a lot. To call them games is perhaps too great a claim pressing the corresponding key when a letter flashes on the screen is not our idea of entertainment. Several are simply too basic to be of any fun, or of much use to learning. Twelve are included, which range from mind-numbingly dull to the outright bizarre. The lessons are interspersed with various arcade style games. Each lesson is graded for speed and accuracy and can be repeated or skipped should the user desire.
Each group of keys is taught over several lessons, with finger placement and accuracy first, then combinations of other keys, gradually building up to speed training. These take a format almost identical to that of SpongeBob Squarepants Typing, which isn't surprising as they are both produced by the same company. This is a nice feature, as the cheesy elevator music soon begins to grate.įirst up are the lessons. One feature that Broderbund are keen to point out is the newly added support for personalised music on the main screen.
#Mavis beacon teaches typing review full#
The Mavis Beacon main screen, dubbed the 'classroom', offers a choice between practice sessions, full lessons or games. Installing the package is as simple as can be, with the relatively meagre system requirements of a Pentium III 450 Mhz with 64Mb of RAM meaning any computer from the last couple of years will run the program easily. A deluxe version is also available that offers even more, with the ability to import files for custom lessons. With over 250 lessons and multiple practice modes available, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 17 is a comprehensive product. Nevertheless, Mavis Beacon remains the world's number one typing tutor and this latest version is a welcome update. The smiling face that has graced the box for 17 consecutive versions of the product is in fact a Caribbean model. You may be shocked to hear this, but we're afraid it's the truth: Mavis Beacon does not really exist.
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