Phoenix, AZ− June 12, 2015− LearnBrite, a division of 3D entertainment and e-learning company ExitReality Inc., has acquired California based Chat Mapper; the world’s leading creators of non-linear branching scenario software. Chat Mapper allows users to create flexible branching conversations that imitate real life scenarios in a story, game or lesson.
Founded in 2009, Chat Mapper was used by video game authors, scriptwriters and later by educators to produce non-linear branching dialogue, to create and view the ‘bigger picture’ and change it as they go. Since then the customer base has grown to include industries such as e-learning, emergency response agencies, healthcare, sales, customer service, playwrights, strategic and military planning.
“After many years of development Chat Mapper is more fun, more engaging, and overall more effective than anything else available in this space,” said Ben McIntosh, founder of Chat Mapper. “That is proven and attested to by the professionals that seek out Chat Mapper for their games, scripts and classes”
The agreement to acquire Chat Mapper and all associated IP was signed during the first quarter of 2015. The acquisition is expected to further strengthen LearnBrite’s position in the global digital education and gamification market.
This acquisition helps LearnBrite to expand a footprint in the components needed to bring the e-learning industry into the new world of cross platform virtual reality. Parent company ExitReality has a range of virtual reality worlds including Twinity and v-Side and have delivered millions of gamification experiences.
With Chat Mapper’s ability to deliver non-linear scenarios, branching conversations, branching audio, branching video and 360 degree experiences, LearnBrite says it will now be able to better serve the e-learning market by integrating with its recently announced HTML5 virtual reality platform.
Inline with the acquisition, a series of exciting breakthroughs have been released in Chat Mapper 1.9, which is now available to download. Chat Mapper scenarios can now be embedded into applications and web pages (similar to a YouTube video). Voices are spoken by multi lingual ‘text to speech’, or recorded audio, by photo characters/cutout people, with backgrounds, as seen here. The output can be viewed in any HTML5 compatible browser or device and does not need plugins. The responsive web design fits any screen size and orientation.
“During the last year we have assisted LearnBrite in delivering dialogues using text to speech for their avatars, including what I believe is the world’s first HTML5 VR e-learning simulation, the landmark Curtin University project,” said McIntosh. “Joining with LearnBrite is really exciting because our vision and culture aligns so precisely. They have a highly skilled team with all of the skills to take Chat Mapper into the VR age, Danny is a legend in the VR world. Together we have a bright future.”
Complex branching scenarios are a key part of the e-learning VR/AR revolution. Combining Chat Mapper with the LearnBrite platform offers the ability for anyone to author scenarios along with the virtual actors and the environments that they live in.
“When Oculus Rift, Microsoft Hololens, Samsung VR, Google’s Magic Leap, HTC Vive and Apple, all hit the world market in 2016 with their amazing VR hardware, people will say, ‘This would be great for education, has anyone done anything about it?” said Danny Stefanic, CEO of LearnBrite. “LearnBrite has. We have integrated Chat Mapper to create the platform to interact in the long awaited virtual classrooms, workplaces and worlds on today’s devices and in tomorrow’s virtual and augmented reality. The acquisition has advanced our plans significantly. As of today any content produced in Chat Mapper is now ‘VR Ready.’ This is a game changer in terms of education and training.”
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
LearnBrite is aiming to build more online training platforms in HTML5 and are inviting enterprises, universities and e-learning companies to create pilot projects with their unique blend of technology.
About LearnBrite
LearnBrite is one of the companies grown by VR veteran entrepreneur, Danny Stefanic. His consortium headed by ExitReality includes Moodalytics.com, MoodleBadges.com, Twinity.com, ResponsiveVoice.com and Koinup.com
LearnBrite are active in the e-learning sector with avatars, non-linear dialogue, gamification and virtual environments. They have developed an e-learning platform based on HTML5, offering increased levels of engagement, involvement and motivation, facilitating self-paced learning and memorable and immersive learning experiences.
The Company is focused on continuing its market expansion and new product development to meet the global trend towards leveraging 3D and virtual reality technology to improve student performance.
