Discis launches Early Learning Titles
"My Silly CDs..." first In Kids Basics series

February 7, 1994 (Toronto, Ontario) -- Discis Knowledge Research today
announced the release of new multimedia children's books on CD-ROM created
specifically for early learning under the "Kids Basics" brand name. The
first four titles are My Silly CD of ABC's, My Silly CD of Counting, My
Silly CD of Colors and My Silly CD of Opposites, each written by Susan
Amerikaner and illustrated by Judy Ziegler.

According to John Lowry, Chairman and co-founder of Discis, "the Kids
Basics line is our response to the many requests we've received from
parents with young children just beginning to understand words and the
reading process. We selected these four titles because their content
offers an ideal opportunity for parents and young children to explore both
the printed word and important learning concepts in an imaginative way,"
Lowry said. Using colorful animal characters to illustrate their message,
the books cover the alphabet and beginning sounds, the numbers 1-10 and
simple addition, as well as colors and opposites. Discis expects the
CD-ROMs to be of particular interest to parents of children 3-6 years.

Educational Focus 

Like the Kids Can Read series of children's literature also published by
Discis and widely used in schools, the new titles feature high quality
color illustrations, narration, music, sound effects, and interactive
learning software.

In describing the new titles, Lowry said that "There are many entertaining
software products on the market for young children, but our goal is very
clear: to use the power of the computer to help children learn to read."

In particular, Lowry noted that Discis uses the capacity of the CD-ROM to
provide in-context explanations, pronunciation, syllables and optional
Spanish translations for every word in the text, and to provide audio and
visual "labels" for the parts of illustrations.

Discis also allows many of the books' features to be customized for
different reading levels -- for example as a child grows and gains new
skills. Even the screen layout looks like an open book with "pages"
containing the text and illustrations. It is the same product design that
has earned Discis numerous awards including the National Parenting
Centre's Seal of Approval and CD-ROM Professional's Consumer Product of
the Year. While the Kids Can Read titles present classic and contemporary
children's literature, the Kids Basics' focus is very much on beginning
concepts, and an introduction to reading, phonics and basic reasoning
skills.

"Experts tell us that learning to read should be a natural process -- not a
struggle. By capitalizing on a child's natural curiosity, including
interest in the computer, children as young as two years can begin the
learning process," Lowry said. He noted that Discis Books help children
combine a number of skills as they see words, hear them spoken and
understand how words relate to the objects they represent.

Parents Guide

Included To help parents encourage their children's learning, Discis has
included a Parent's Guide complete with related activity ideas, prepared
by education specialists. And there are extra elements of fun in the
product to help motivate and entertain young children. For example, while
clicking on picture elements produces an audio and visual "label" for the
object selected -- allowing the child to associate the sound and spelling
of words with the object the word represents -- clicking on the books'
animal characters results in a spoken response by the character.

Each Kids Basic title is published on Multiformat CD-ROM, compatible with
the IBM PC (MS-DOS) including Windows, and the Apple Macintosh from a
single disc. Two titles, My Silly CD of ABC's and My Silly CD of Counting,
will be available through retail channels including major computer
dealers, mass merchandisers, and software catalogs at the suggested retail
price of $29.95/disc. My Silly CD of Colors and My Silly CD of Opposites
will be available directly from Discis at a special introductory offer of
up to 50% off the MSRP. The books are also available in Classroom Editions
that include integrated Activity Guides and Black-Line Masters. Pricing is
$35.95/disc or $130 for a four-book library

Discis
1688 John St
Thornhill, Ontario, CANADA L3T 1Y9
905-886-7273,  fax 905-771-0422

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