Convomania - A Website Designed for Sick and Disabled
Children; Apple Helps Connect Children in a
Cyber-Community Setting
PR Newswire - April 03, 1997 08:33
CUPERTINO, Calif., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Apple Computer, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AAPL) today formally announced Convomania
(http://www.mania.apple.com), a website designed for kids who are seriously
sick or disabled. Convomania empowers kids with the opportunity to use the
Internet to share their feelings and ideas in a cyber-community setting.
"Convomania is designed to provide kids with a place where they can share
their thoughts and emotions candidly with other kids who are in similar
situations," says Alan Brightman, head of Apple's Worldwide Disability
Solutions Group. "The kids who spend time on Convomania spend weeks and months
at a time disconnected from their homes, their schools, and their friends.
Convomania intends to reconnect these kids."
"Convomania is a cool place where kids can meet online and share their
stories, their illnesses and their challenges," says Alexis Brown, a thirteen
year old who suffers with lupus, cerebral palsy, and sickle cell anemia, and
who was the original inspiration for developing Convomania. "It's where I can
meet my friends and make new ones."
"I wouldn't be surprised if medically, down the road, this helps counter
some of the debilitating aspects of being in the hospital," says Dr. Bruce
Baker, a clinical psychology professor at the University of California, Los
Angeles. "This clearly builds a child's self esteem. If you've got a child who
feels more competent, less lonely, more engaged, and more in touch with family
and friends, that has to make them better able to recover."
The website has six areas designed to enable children to share their
thoughts and ideas, and to get connected to others who are going through
similar experiences: Say It -- a place where kids participate in online chats
Stick It -- a digital magnetic poetry game that helps facilitate expression
Share It -- a message board for kids to share ideas 24 hours a day Solve It --
a place to ask questions and receive answers about what it's like to live with
chronic illness Sketch It -- a digital art gallery focusing on illness-related
themes Show It -- a forum for kids to express themselves using theater art
skills
Convomania is an alliance between Apple and several partner sites (leading
children's hospitals, camps and organizations for kids with disabilities)
including: Miller Memorial Children's Hospital, Long Beach, Calif.; The
Children's Hospital, Denver Colo.; UCLA Children's Hospital, Los Angeles,
Calif.; The Floating Hospital for Children at New England Medical Center,
Boston, Mass.; the Ronald McDonald House, Stanford, Calif.; Boggy Creek Gang
Camp, Eustis, Fla.; Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, Breckenridge,
Colo.; United Cerebral Palsy, Oklahoma City, Okla.; and United Cerebral Palsy,
Austin, Texas. Apple is also working closely with the San Jose Children's
Musical Theater and Clear Ink, Inc. in the development of the Convomania
website.
Convomania is an extension of Apple's 12-year long commitment to children
and adults with disabilities which began with the founding of the industry's
first Office of Special education in 1985. Convomania is an important part of
Apple's global Internet strategy, expanding the Company's outreach to included
the building of unique social communities.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry
and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on
easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal
digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino,
California, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions,
products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer,
entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more
than 140 counties.
NOTE: Apple and the Apple logo, are registered trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders, and are hereby acknowledged.
SOURCE Apple Computer Inc.
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I like to think this stuff (besides being very cool) will provide evidence to buyers in education of AAPL's committment to that market.
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