TechInsights and Software Kids Demystify Engineering, Science and Math With New Video Game

TechInsights, the global leader in media, marketing and professional services for the electronics industry, and next-generation educational game developers, Software Kids, LLC, today announced the release of Time Engineers™, a graphics and content rich video game designed to introduce pre-high school students to basic engineering, science and math principles in a fun and entertaining setting.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090217/AQTU104)

TechInsights co-markets Time Engineers as part of an ongoing commitment to engineering education programs for all ages. "We are delighted to work with Software Kids to help promote Time Engineers," said TechInsights' CEO, Paul Miller. "The game is an excellent teaching tool and does a great job of piquing student interest in the fields of engineering and technology."

Time Engineers was created by Software Kids founder Ray Shingler to combat the perception that careers in the sciences are not as prestigious or as lucrative as other careers. "We set out to produce a computer game where kids could see the importance of learning math and science at an earlier age," said Shingler. "Time Engineers also allows them to have 'hands on' interactive simulations to enhance their level of learning. And unlike most educational software, Time Engineers was designed to be as rich in graphics, content and game-play as most commercial games students play."

After cracking the code that gives access to the Time Engineers travel pod, students are graphically transported back in time to the origins of some of the most significant engineering achievements in history. Players can experiment with mechanisms and materials to build the pyramids and crop irrigation systems of Ancient Egypt, help design and command a World War II submarine, and learn how to engineer a Middle Ages drawbridge.

At each step in their journey through time, students are challenged by interactive exercises that help them learn and apply engineering, science, mathematics and technology concepts such as binary number systems, Boolean logic, linear expressions, geometric set theory and power generation.

Produced in conjunction with the College of Engineering at Valparaiso University, Time Engineers has been endorsed by educators who value its easy-to-follow manual and helpful teaching tools such as lesson plans and curriculum guides. "Time Engineers is an incredibly engaging and equally educational tool," said Michael Jabot, Ph.D., Professor, Physics and Science Education, State University of New York at Fredonia. "In using it with a group of middle school students as part of our outreach program, even the most reluctant of the students was drawn into the program and we had a difficult time breaking them away when our time ran out."

Time Engineers won Choosing Children's Software magazine's "Best Pick" award and Children's Technology Review magazine's "All Star Software" award. More than 3000 copies of the game have been purchased to date and a sequel that incorporates social impact themes, environmental and biomedical engineering concepts and contributions made by women and minorities is in the works.

About Software Kids (http://www.software-kids.com/)

Software Kids is committed to creating industry leading educational software that bridges the gap between the power and excitement of multimedia technology and the fundamentals of curriculum based learning for K-12. Time Engineers is available for purchase on-line at http://www.timeengineers.com/.

About TechInsights (http://www.techinsights.com/)

TechInsights is the global leader in media, marketing, and professional services for the electronics industry. We deliver results for the "Creators of Technology" -- those key influencers and decision makers involved in the definition, development, protection, and commercialization of technology and related intellectual property. More than 1.1 million engineering professionals engage with our online brands -- EE Times, TechOnline, DesignLines, and Embedded.com -- monthly across Europe, India, Japan, Taiwan, mainland China and North America. As well, the technology community comes to our face-to-face events -- the Embedded Systems Conferences and Intellectual Property Symposia -- to share, learn, discuss, and advance the critical issues and challenges facing the electronics industry. Finally, for those clients with a specific technology, or intellectual property objective we engage on a custom basis through our TechInsights Professional Services team -- Portelligent, Sanguine Microelectronics, and Semiconductor Insights.

TechInsights is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $1.6B.

   Contact:
   Ray Shingler, Founder, Software Kids
   rshingler@software-kids.com
   219-707-0525

   Media Contact:
   Jenn Markey
   Chief Marketing Officer, TechInsights
   jmarkey@techinsights.com
   613-599-6500 ext 4439

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090217/AQTU104
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SOURCE: TechInsights

CONTACT: Ray Shingler, Founder of Software Kids, +1-219-707-0525,
rshingler@software-kids.com; or Jenn Markey, Chief Marketing Officer of
TechInsights, +1-613-599-6500, ext. 4439, jmarkey@techinsights.com

Web site: http://www.techinsights.com/
http://www.software-kids.com/
http://www.timeengineers.com/