Mavis Beacon

Mavis Beacon is a fictional female African-American character created for the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing software.[1]

Contents

History

Developed to be a anthropomorphic representation of a Software Toolworks instructional typing program, Mavis Beacon debuted as simply a photo of a model on the software's packaging in 1987. The model chosen to be the face of Mavis was Haitian-born Renee Lesperance who was discovered by one of the software developers working behind the perfume counter at Saks 5th Avenue Beverly Hills in 1985. Mavis's name comes from a combination of Mavis Staples, one of the software developer's favorite singers; and the word "beacon"- an allusion to her role as a guide to typing.[1][2]

There have been several models chosen to represent the confident efficiency of Mavis Beacon - her image changes to represent a "modern professional typing instructor."[2][3]

Because of Mavis Beacon's race, some computer software distributors, mostly but not exclusively, in the southwestern and southern United States, were initially reluctant to carry the computer software. However, once the popularity of the program became evident, many of these distributors reversed their decision and began to carry the line of software bearing Mavis Beacon's image.[2] This year is the 25th anniversary of the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing retail software product. Since its introduction, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing has been the best-selling typing software (according to NPD Group data).

Fame

Mavis Beacon has been seen as groundbreaking for being one of the first computer instruction characters and for being a female African-American embodiment of computer software, a field viewed as overwhelmingly white and male. Throughout the 1990s Mavis Beacon served as the computerized typing instructor at numerous American schools. As of 1998 she had instructed 6,000,000 school children.[2] Mavis has been compared to American cultural icon Betty Crocker and has been called "the Betty Crocker of cyberspace".[1]

Confusion

Mavis Beacon is often thought to be a living or historical figure by the public. This confusion has led many to contact the software developers seeking to speak to, interview or book Mavis for an event. Furthermore, as a result of Mavis Beacon's continuous use in computer typing software, and her image on millions of software boxes, many consumers have reported confabulations (false memories) of Mavis Beacon winning typing contests or appearing on talk shows.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Macklin, William (November 19, 1995). "Supertypist Mavis Beacon Is A Creation Of Marketing". Seattle Times. http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2153259&date=19951119. Retrieved June 25, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Biersdorfer, J.D. (December 31, 1998). "Next They'll Say Betty Crocker Isn't Real, Either". The New York Times: pp. 2. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/31/technology/next-they-ll-say-betty-crocker-isn-t-real-either.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved June 25, 2010. 
  3. ^ Broderbund. "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Platinum 20". Broderbund. http://www.broderbund.com/p-36-mavis-beacon-teaches-typing-platinum-20.aspx. Retrieved May 10, 2010.