EXECUTIVE MESSAGE:

Apreso acquires Lectopia

With fall quickly approaching, students are eagerly returning to university campuses, and faculty and administration are ready to swing into full gear.  But this semester, I start a new educational track, with a concentration in lecture capture.  The course is Echo360™, and the prerequisite is the acquisition of Lectopia.

This special edition issue of Verbatim, The Apreso Capture Chronicles! will introduce you to the major changes we made on our campus this semester.  On August 27, Anystream Apreso announced the acquisition of Lectopia, a university-bred lecture capture pioneer.  Along with our Sterling, Virginia based team, I am thrilled to welcome the team from Perth, Australia to our growing business, expanding to over 175 institutions worldwide.  This is an exciting acquisition, an investment in growth, and the next step in our commitment to deliver a world class product to your smart classrooms.

Acquisition always brings change.  As our business grows, we felt we needed to transform our brand to reflect our growth. Therefore, I would formally like to introduce Echo360™.  An echo is a repetition and a reflection of sound, and our hope is to help you capture the sounds of your university’s teachings and reflect them back to your students.  Over the next few months, we will be transitioning our website and customer-facing materials to our new name and logo.  I would like to invite you to join us in Seattle at the Educause2007 Annual Conference for the official debut of our new name!

As you strive to inspire and teach your students, keep in mind that our team is here to support you in your efforts.  Lecture capture has moved beyond just being a tool and a technology – it is a part of the student learning experience.  Today’s university students are unique – they come from all over the globe; they may be parents with demanding schedules; they may have mastered the challenge of a learning disability. The unique student requires a unique learning experience.  Lecture capture will not replace excellent educators.  It will enhance the way teachers teach.  Our mission is to help students learn by helping teachers teach.

Best wishes for a successful semester,

Fred Singer
CEO, Echo360

KNOW AND TELL:

Perth, Australia, home of the University of Western Australia

True or False:  Perth is the farthest point away from Sterling, Virginia, where Echo360 is headquartered.
True.  Perth is a 28 hour plane ride from Dulles Aiport, near Sterling, Virginia.  Western Australia is a 12 hour time difference from Eastern Time.

DINGOES (Canis lupus dingo) are a type of Australian dog. They are thought to have originated in Asia, having evolved from a subspecies of the Grey wolf.

17,538:  the number of students enrolled at the University of Western Australia as of 2006.

Seattle, Washington:  The location of the World Boomerang Championship 2008.  The tournament will be played on the sports fields of the University of Washington.