A Sincere Thank You

A thank you of the highest order is due my two sons.  They are always giving the company ideas on what to write and create next as well as being our fiercest "informed" critics. It amazes everyone how easily both pick up on the minute movements of software and information plus have ideas on how to improve products without extensive rewrites of code.  The several hundred hours of live testing that they did, and continue to do, in various capacities, is very much appreciated.  If it does not pass the student test, we do not let it out the door.

To make a long story short, they watched the development and production of essay writing instructional content that is licensed to other educational sites.  Many of their ideas are incorporated to make the content more student-friendly.  But, they thought the content could be even more versatile and threw out ideas of small writing computers and other excellent soon-to-be-developed projects.  I listened intently even though, as CEO, I had no idea how it could be done.  None of the computer languages for the web really worked on the systems they wanted.

It was only a week later, while shopping for a new phone, that I saw the iPhone's new Developer SDK in-depth for the first time.  Then it hit me - my sons were right!  However, what was needed were new computer languages, new software architecture, a new platform, a new interface, and a new way of thinking about delivering content - all brought together by the ingenious developer-based iPhone App technology, which was only five months old at the time. 

In the new student world, the old web-based architecture and interfaces are things of the past.  The new terms to learn were xCode, DashCode, UIViewController, AppDelegate, First Responder, UDID, Bundle Identifier, and Provisioning Profiles just to name a few.  A lot of software to learn and digest quickly. It was right then and there the Essay Writing Wizard and ESL Essay Writing apps were born, Winter 2009.  I still think, wow, what a great idea they had. Thanks guys!

What We Do

The Niles Technology Group is a new way of designing educational software.  We are about the belief that the user interface is an integral part of the content, and very much determines how effective the learning is.

Without proper logical flow and consistent ways of presenting content, the results are always in doubt, and the ability to learn usable skills from that product is not dependable.

The Interface is Integral to the Content

We actually go one step further and say, in many respects, the interface is content.  At Niles Technology Group, we create and write content specifically to work with the interface to constantly reinforce what is being taught.

Content is not just presented and displayed.  It purposes the technology, and, in return, the technology purposes the content.

Design Principles

We develop content and design user interfaces using a set of four core principles.

1.  We understand the value of your time, so our content is very readable and gets to the point.  Very little deciphering is necessary.

2.  Our interfaces get to the point also.  Ninety-eight percent (98%) of all functions and necessary information are no more than one or two clicks away.  Extended, buried menus?  Well, we do not believe in them.  We do not like hunting for things; we assume you don't either.  Plus, we forget the functions are even there anyway.

3.  Fluff is avoided at all costs.  We purposely limit the number of pages and information in our products.  Simply, there is a point where there is too much information and too many functions.  This information and functionality overload often impede the learning process and confuse users.  As stated in No. 1 and 2 above, we get to the point.  If chosen correctly, content and good interface design are more effective and efficient in the teaching and learning process than 10 times more written content.  Who reads all of that anyway?  No one we know.

4.  Above all, Niles Technology Group knows its own corporate purpose; to provide users with the best content and interface for the task at hand.  In short, we believe in keeping it as simple as the task allows.

Your Aging Content in need of a Revamp?

Now that you know our principles, does your aging content need to be rewritten, re-purposed, and given a new lease on life in an interface that makes it more useful?  Then contact us at NTG@essaywritingwizard.com, and we will be happy to discuss what we can do for you.   

We Buy Content

We also buy high-quality, usable content.  Contact us if you have educational content for sale.  We have made several content acquisitions in the last few months.