Typequick

Typequick is an Australian educational-software brand focused on computer-based touch-typing instruction. Its origins date to 1982, when Noel McIntosh's AID Systems worked with Blue Sky Industries to turn McIntosh's teaching method into software for the emerging microcomputer market. McIntosh had previously worked with computers in training and operations-research contexts and saw a gap between the rapid spread of personal computers and the limited keyboard skills of many new users. The resulting program was designed to teach efficient finger placement, speed, accuracy and confidence, while also helping experienced users correct inefficient hunt-and-peck habits. The first Typequick program was demonstrated publicly in Sydney in February 1983. Early commercial development involved possible relationships with Pitman Publishers, attempts to secure distribution in the United States, and discussions involving computer manufacturers. These arrangements did not all endure, but the product established a position in Australia through dealers, mail-order promotion and institutional sales. In 1985, McIntosh founded the Typequick company after buying out the original founders and acquiring the software. He became chief executive, Lode Van Grootel joined as chief financial officer, and Donna McIntosh became chief technology officer. A major early breakthrough came when Typequick won a New South Wales Department of Technical and Further Education tender, helping it shift from individual retail sales toward contracts with colleges, universities, government departments and large employers. Internationalisation became a defining part of the business. Typequick entered Japan during the mid-1980s and developed a localisation for the PC-9801 that addressed Japanese keyboard and writing-system requirements. The Japanese course supported hiragana, katakana and romaji, as well as conversion practice involving kana and kanji. IBM also obtained non-exclusive marketing rights for versions associated with its IBM JX and IBM 5500 systems, creating an additional route into the Japanese market. By the late 1980s, Typequick had licensing or distribution arrangements in the United States, Britain and the Netherlands, with translated versions subsequently made available in several European languages and Canadian French. The product was sold to both consumer and institutional markets. Customers and licensees mentioned in historical accounts include Australian education providers, Australia Post, Qantas, Telecom Australia, the Royal Australian Air Force, the United States Department of Defense, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Japanese corporations and public institutions. Typequick also developed versions for schools, multi-user networks, vocational training and visually impaired learners. Its instructional model recorded typing errors, hesitation, speed and weak keys, then used that information to generate exercises and progress reports. Releases moved from copy-protected floppy disks to CD-ROM, removable drives and network installations across platforms including DOS, Windows, Macintosh, Apple II and Japanese computer systems. In the mid-1990s, the company broadened its audience beyond adults and office workers. Kewala's Typing Adventure, released in 1996, recast the typing course as an animated adventure game for younger users. It was renamed Typequick for Students in 1997 as part of a clearer adult-and-junior market structure. Promotional activity included themed overland journeys and participation in the Lycos CyberSurfari internet treasure hunt. At the same time, the rise of the internet created commercial challenges because prospective customers showed interest in downloadable demonstrations but remained cautious about buying software online. Typequick reported continued use in Australian schools into the early 2000s and announced a Typequick Certified Trainer program in 2001. That year, a second corporate phase began when Leon Brummer acquired the company and became chief executive, with Peter Herman taking the chief technology role. Historical accounts state that the business remained particularly strong in Japan and that its software was used by large organisations and educational institutions. By 2002, Typequick was described as one of the two leading typing-tutor programs alongside TypingMaster. The available reference material does not establish the company's present ownership, operating status or current product catalogue.

Typequick began as a response to the keyboard-training needs created by the arrival of affordable microcomputers. Noel McIntosh, whose earlier career included computer-related consulting and work with IBM, developed the teaching approach behind the product through AID Systems. In 1982, AID Systems commissioned Ross Mitchell of Blue Sky Industries to implement the system in the C programming language. The software presented controlled passages one line at a time, required accurate correction of errors and generated feedback on speed, hesitation and difficult keys. McIntosh demonstrated the program at a Sydney computer show in February 1983. Early attempts to obtain exclusive rights or major distribution arrangements included discussions with Adam Osborne, Digital Equipment Corporation and Pitman Publishers. The company also explored the United States market through distributors and advertising, although the initial distributor relationships did not mature as hoped. In 1985, McIntosh created Typequick Pty Ltd, acquired the software and reorganised the business with Lode Van Grootel and Donna McIntosh. Australian institutional contracts, especially a New South Wales TAFE tender, became important to the company's growth. Japan was the most significant international market. Typequick and its partners adapted the program for Japanese computers and typing conventions, including practice with hiragana, katakana and romaji and exercises for kana-to-kanji conversion. IBM marketed versions for some of its Japanese and Australian computer systems, while other local publishing and distribution arrangements developed in Japan. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Typequick expanded through distributors and publishers in Britain, the Netherlands, the United States and other markets. Versions were translated or adapted for English, Dutch, German, French, Canadian French and Spanish users. The company concentrated on a relatively narrow product category but produced many editions for different operating systems, languages, audiences and licensing models. Its customers included schools, universities, government agencies, military organisations, corporations and professional firms. The software moved through successive technical formats, from floppy disks to CD-ROM, removable media and network installations. In addition to standard adult and business editions, Typequick developed versions for blind users and educational packages for institutions. In the 1990s, Typequick tried to make typing practice more attractive to children through Kewala's Typing Adventure. The product used animation, music and an adventure structure, and was later renamed Typequick for Students. Promotional projects included long-distance themed journeys and involvement in the Lycos CyberSurfari. The internet created both visibility and difficulty: demonstrations and email enquiries increased, but online purchasing remained constrained by customer concerns about transaction security. The brand continued to be reported in Australian educational use around 2000. A change of ownership in 2001 brought Leon Brummer into the chief executive role and Peter Herman into technology leadership. Reference material records continued Japanese exports and institutional use through the early 2000s, with Typequick positioned among the leading typing-tutor products by 2002. Later ownership, corporate structure and current operations are not established by the supplied sources.

• 2001

  Second corporate phase begins

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  Leon Brummer acquired the company and appointed a new technology leadership structure.

• 1996

  Kewala's Typing Adventure released

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  Typequick introduced an adventure-game format aimed at younger typing students.

• 1989

  Major IBM Japan order

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  IBM Japan placed what was described as Typequick's largest order to that point.

• 1986

  Japanese and IBM versions released

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  Japanese localisation and IBM-associated editions helped establish Typequick in international markets.

• 1985

  Typequick company formed

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  McIntosh founded the Typequick company after acquiring the original software and buying out its founders.

• 1983

  First public product launch

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  Noel McIntosh demonstrated Typequick at a Sydney computer show and began commercial promotion.

• 1982

  Development of the first Typequick program

  [1]Typequicken.wikipedia.org

  AID Systems and Blue Sky Industries developed the first computer-based Typequick touch-typing tutor.

A structured, data-informed touch-typing education brand serving schools, government agencies, businesses, professional users and home learners, with particular emphasis on measurable speed and accuracy improvement and multilingual localisation.

• Business and professional typing tutor · 1983

  Typequick Professional

  The adult-oriented core course, rebranded as Typequick Professional in the late 1990s, was intended for businesses, universities, vocational institutions and individual professionals. It used progressive lessons, accuracy correction, speed targets and performance reports. The software tracked weak keys, errors and hesitation to tailor practice and document improvement.

• School typing education · 1997

  Typequick for Students

  Typequick for Students was the student-focused identity applied to the junior version of the product after Kewala's Typing Adventure. It used more visual and motivational elements than the conventional office-training course and was designed for school-age learners.

• Educational typing adventure game · 1996

  Kewala's Typing Adventure

  This 1996 product recast typing instruction as an animated adventure game with music and narrative-style progression. It was developed to make keyboard practice more appealing to children and required a substantial redesign of the traditional lesson format.

• Japanese-localised typing tutor · 1986

  Typequick Japanese

  The Japanese edition was adapted for PC-9801 systems and Japanese keyboard usage. It covered hiragana, katakana and romaji and included exercises related to kana conversion into kanji, addressing the distinctive requirements of Japanese text entry through a QWERTY keyboard.

• Accessible typing software · 1991

  Typequick for the visually impaired

  Typequick extended its courseware range with an edition designed for blind users. The available material confirms the product's accessibility focus but does not provide sufficient detail about its interface, supported platforms or later availability.

• 1997Kewala's Trans-Japan Adventure

  Japan

  Typequick followed its Siberian promotional concept with a classic-car journey through Japan, linking the brand's international market to the Kewala identity.

  Outcome. The source material does not report a specific commercial outcome.

  Source
• 1997Lycos CyberSurfari

  International

  Typequick participated in the Lycos CyberSurfari, an internet treasure-hunt initiative intended to introduce families to the World Wide Web.

  Outcome. The activity provided online exposure during Typequick's transition into the internet era; its direct sales impact is not documented.

  Source
• 1996Kewala's Trans-Siberian Adventure

  Australia · Russia

  As a promotion for the junior-oriented Kewala product, McIntosh and associates undertook a themed journey across the Trans-Siberian route in classic cars.

  Outcome. The journey supported publicity for the adventure-game positioning, although no quantified campaign result is reported.

  Source

• 2001

  Change ownership and managementM&A

  Background

  Typequick entered a second corporate phase after years of international software distribution.

  Action taken

  Leon Brummer bought the company and became chief executive, while Peter Herman assumed the chief technology role.

  Aftermath

  The available sources continue to describe Japanese exports and institutional use after the transaction, but do not document later ownership.

  Source

• 1997

  Divide the product range between adults and juniorsStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to serve children without abandoning its established business and professional customer base.

  Action taken

  Typequick separated its market approach into adult and junior segments and renamed Kewala's Typing Adventure as Typequick for Students.

  Aftermath

  The rebranding gave the educational product a closer connection to the main Typequick identity.

  Source

• 1986

  Invest in Japanese localisationStrategy

  Background

  Japan used different typing conventions and computer systems, making a direct translation of the original course inadequate.

  Action taken

  Typequick acquired a PC-9801, worked from Japanese technical documentation and created training for hiragana, katakana, romaji and kana-to-kanji conversion.

  Aftermath

  The localisation helped Typequick establish a substantial Japanese market and supported relationships with IBM and Japanese distributors.

  Japanese localisation and marketing investment. 105000 Australian dollars (1986)

  Source

1. 1Typequicken.wikipedia.org