Apple's 'Cocoa' Turns Kids Into Internet Applet Developers

Easy-to-Use Cocoa for Kids Previewed at Apple Developer's Conference

WWDC, SAN JOSE, California--May 13, 1996--Expanding its Internet strategy
into the home and educational markets, Apple Computer, Inc. today
previewed 'Cocoa' at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Cocoa is an
interactive media authoring tool for children 10 years and above, as well
as non-technical adults. Cocoa and its accompanying Netscape Navigator
plug-in allow children to build simulations, games and interactive worlds
into web pages quickly and easily.

"Just as Sun Microsystems' Java and Macromedia's Shockwave have provided
custom, media-rich web content for technically savvy developers, Cocoa
brings this technology into the reach of kids and non-technical adults,"
said Larry Tesler, vice president, Internet platforms, Apple Computer.
"Cocoa generates ready-to-publish Web pages automatically, so users can
build interactive multimedia web sites just by pointing and clicking."

Internet Authoring for Kids

Kids can create simulations, games, animations, nonlinear stories, and
interactive worlds with Cocoa. In Cocoa Worlds, users create objects, each
of which can have independent behaviors assigned to them. As the
simulation is run, the objects find themselves in different environments,
which the user can program them to react to. Their reactions can involve
movement, animation, playing sounds, and creating or deleting other
objects.

Cocoa offers a friendly, familiar Macintosh interface, incorporating drag
and drop functionality and a built-in painting tool. The programming is
accomplished by simply demonstrating an object's desired reactions. The
system then writes all the code automatically and is transparent to the
user. An element of randomness can be added to the simulations, making
them run differently every time. When these worlds are embedded in Web
pages, every time the Web page is visited, a completely novel experience
can be generated.

Using this technology, children can leverage the World Wide Web to build a
huge, ever-evolving adventure game, completely designed and implemented by
them, playing differently every time through.

Cocoa: Ideal Learning Tool

Cocoa is the product of many years of research conducted by Apple's
Advanced Technology Group. Over 75 schools and institutions in North
America and Europe were involved in extensive user testing with hundreds
of children. Most of the testers have learned to use the basic features of
Cocoa in less than 20 minutes. Cocoa is offered as a visual,
demonstrational alternative to Logo, Basic or HyperTalk for teaching
problem solving and introductory programming.

"Motivation is very important in learning," said Augusto Chioccariello of
the Institute of Learning Technology in Genoa, Italy. "Once you have a
simulation that the child likes, it is possible to use it as an object to
think with. Only when you start engaging in this process does learning
happen. Cocoa facilitates this."

Price and Availability

The Cocoa plug-in for Netscape Navigator will be available free for both
Mac OS and Windows 95. Pricing has not been determined for Cocoa. Apple
expects the Mac OS version to be available later this year.

Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal
digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions,
products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer,
entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more
than 140 countries.

If you are considering the purchase of an Apple product and would like to
have product information faxed to you, please call 1-800-462-4396 in the
U.S. or 1-800-263-3394 in Canada. If you do not have a fax machine or
would like to locate an Apple authorized reseller near you, please call
1-800-538-9696. Customers outside the U.S. should contact their local
Apple representatives for information.

Apple's home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.apple.com/
 
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