Koobits
Encyclopedia
KooBits is a software company focusing on interactive digital publishing.
industry, and decided to focus on creating software for interactive enhanced ebooks.
KooBits received support from the Media Development Authority
(MDA) in the development of Future Media and was one of the companies selected to receive funding in Interactive Digital Media projects. MDA also helped Personal e-Motion secure Venture Capital
fund from Accel-X Pte Ltd. KooBits is part of the FutureBooks Partner Network initiated by MDA to develop Singapore-based learning from user-generated content to delivery across multiple platforms. PEM raised its first round of Venture Capital investments in July 2009 through NUS Enterprise ’s network of Business Angels and Venture Capitalists.
KooBits provides the platform for the creation of ebooks for Young Reporters Training Camp program of Youth Olympic Games
2010, an initiative by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
(MICA), Singapore.
, Chinese, Malay
, and Tamil
. Users can publish their ebooks on their user profile, share them on various social networks, and comment on books created.
The software's proprietary Content-Driven Animation technology allows users to trigger images, videos, and animations by entering or reading key words and phrases in an ebook. An Advanced Resource Pool allocation algorithm
allows for high performance with real-time rendering of large-sized, progressively-downloading multimedia files and data encoding. KooBits Editor has also been developed with component-based capability for the application to be embedded in a third-party environments such as Facebook
.
The KooBits Editor is being used by elearning
companies and organizations in South East Asia, China
, Maldives
, and Kuwait
, and is used by more than 90 schools in Singapore
. In 2009, KooBits partnered with Singaporean bookstore Popular Holdings
to promote and sell the software.
that allows teachers to prepare and archive classroom materials, and track students’ progress. Students engage in interactive lessons and use it as a tool to develop both digital literacy
and visual literacy
.
History
KooBits Pte Ltd was founded in 2009 by Prof. Sam Ge Shuzhi, Dr. Chen Xiangdong, and current CEO Stanley Han. The trio saw opportunity in the rapid growth of the ebookE-book
An electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
industry, and decided to focus on creating software for interactive enhanced ebooks.
Awards
In 2008, KooBits was the winner of the Asia Pacific ICT Awards 2008 (elearning) and the Infocomm Singapore Awards 2008 (elearning).KooBits received support from the Media Development Authority
Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts .-History:...
(MDA) in the development of Future Media and was one of the companies selected to receive funding in Interactive Digital Media projects. MDA also helped Personal e-Motion secure Venture Capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
fund from Accel-X Pte Ltd. KooBits is part of the FutureBooks Partner Network initiated by MDA to develop Singapore-based learning from user-generated content to delivery across multiple platforms. PEM raised its first round of Venture Capital investments in July 2009 through NUS Enterprise ’s network of Business Angels and Venture Capitalists.
KooBits provides the platform for the creation of ebooks for Young Reporters Training Camp program of Youth Olympic Games
Youth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event first held in Singapore from August 14 to August 26, 2010. The games are held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format. The age limitation of the athletes is between 14 to 18...
2010, an initiative by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is a ministry of the Government of Singapore...
(MICA), Singapore.
KooBits 4.0
KooBits 4.0 is a place to shelve ebooks. Just as with a physical version, users can organize ebooks in a bookshelf either using the default categories or renaming them. Also, tools are available for highlighting and stamping on ebooks as well as opening PDF, EPUB, interactive KBJ ebooks and more. The software also enables audio and video input on top of animation of characters and game elements.KooBits Editor
The KooBits Editor is a program that allows users to create multimedia ebooks, ecards, scrap books, photo montages and more. It is currently available in four languages: EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Chinese, Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. Users can publish their ebooks on their user profile, share them on various social networks, and comment on books created.
The software's proprietary Content-Driven Animation technology allows users to trigger images, videos, and animations by entering or reading key words and phrases in an ebook. An Advanced Resource Pool allocation algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
allows for high performance with real-time rendering of large-sized, progressively-downloading multimedia files and data encoding. KooBits Editor has also been developed with component-based capability for the application to be embedded in a third-party environments such as Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
.
The KooBits Editor is being used by elearning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
companies and organizations in South East Asia, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
, and Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, and is used by more than 90 schools in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. In 2009, KooBits partnered with Singaporean bookstore Popular Holdings
Popular Holdings
Popular Holdings , commonly called Popular, is a Singapore-based company that publishes, distributes, and retails books for the local education market. It has subsidiaries in countries such as Canada, the People's Republic of China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan...
to promote and sell the software.
KooBits EDU
KooBits EDU is intended primarily for schools – including primary and secondary schools, private institutions and international schools – within and outside of Singapore. KooBits EDU comes with a content management systemContent management system
A content management system is a system providing a collection of procedures used to manage work flow in a collaborative environment. These procedures can be manual or computer-based...
that allows teachers to prepare and archive classroom materials, and track students’ progress. Students engage in interactive lessons and use it as a tool to develop both digital literacy
Digital literacy
Digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and analyze information using digital technology. It involves a working knowledge of current high-technology, and an understanding of how it can be used. Further, digital literacy involves a consciousness of the...
and visual literacy
Visual literacy
Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be “read” and that meaning can be communicated through a process of reading....
.