Keyboarding Software Analysis
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Running head: KEYBOARDING SOFTWARE ANALYSIS
Keyboarding Software Packages:
Analysis and Purchase Recommendation
Jeff Cantrell
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Purpose and Scope
Procedures
FINDINGS
Overview of Software Being Evaluated
Evaluation of Software
Based on Cost
Based on Ease of Use
Based on Feature Set
Based on Help and Support
Based on Supported Configurations
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the Problems and Procedures
Summary of the Findings
Conclusions and Recommendations
INTRODUCTION
Every company needs to ensure that it is receiving the utmost in productivity from its employees. In the current age of technology, this productivity is partially defined not only by computer proficiency, but also by a demonstrated ability to key-touch. Employees who never learned to type correctly diminish the productivity gains made by their companies computerization (Ferguson, 2008).
To ensure that the almost 2,000 employees of our firm are performing at the best keyboarding levels, while at the same time making as little errors as possible, Charles R. Underwood, supervisor, authorized this report on February 13, 2008.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Specifically the following problem was addressed in this study: What IBM-compatible, adult-geared and self-taught piece of software could we use to educate our employees on correct typing procedures, therefore increasing computer productivity?
PROCEDURES
In order to answer this question, the following methods were utilized:
A list of four potential candidate software packages was compiled.
Research resulting in comparisons by the following criteria was performed:
Cost
Ease of Use
Feature Set
Help and Support
Supported Configurations
The data was compiled and an overall rating was assigned to each software package.
FINDINGS
Below you will find the results of my analysis into these four different software packages.
SOFTWARE PACKAGES
For the sake of time and keeping this study from becoming too lengthy, four of the most popular keyboarding software packages listed on TopTenReviews.com were selected for this evaluation. Those software packages are as follows, in no particular order:
TypingMaster Pro (by 1 Software Way)
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (by Broderbund)
21st Century Typing (by 21st Software Corp.)
Typing Instructor Deluxe (by Individual Software Inc.)
EVALUATION OF SOFTWARE
The four software packages in question were evaluated based on cost, ease of use, feature set, help and support, and supported configurations. The findings are summarized in the following table:
TypingMaster Pro
Mavis Beacon
Typing Instructor
21st Century
Price
$29.90
$29.99
$19.95
$14.99
Number of Lessons
Number of Practice Articles
Results and Progress
Words Per Minute
Accuracy
Initial Skill Level Test
Create Custom Tests
Help and Support
Phone Support
Email Support
Manual
Supported Configurations
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows 9x, NT
Customer Ratings
Ease of Use
Feature Set
Ease of Installation
Overall Ranking
COST
As shown in the table, the Mavis Beacon software package is the most costly, with a price tag of $29.99 per unit installed. 21st century typing came in as the cheapest package available, at roughly half the price of Mavis Beacon, at $14.99 per installation. Cost is just one factor