MediaDefined’s (www.mediadefined.com) initial objective was to display the ease of software implementation. The six-month-old privately held company develops Internet-based software applications, which include DevelopmentWare, FoundationWare and NetExam. The technology aims to create wireless personal area networks, or PAN’s, for data exchange between devices such as notebook and pocketbook computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, and printers.

"Our team was thinking of a way to show how simple it was for non-technical people to use and distribute Web content using FoundationWare, our content managing platform," Strauss said. "I had made the comment ‘It was so easy even a child could use it,’ and 3Stone’s creative director Scott Lindsey thought it would be great if we could actually have a classroom of children use the software."

MediaDefined hired Dallas-based 3Stone to do design and HTML build-outs. 3Stone (www.3stone.com) offers e-business services and builds customized online affiliate programs, business-to-business extranet applications and client management systems.

"We went to the school and explained navigation and content to the kids, and let them have fun and draw some pictures," Lindsey said. "Templates were given to the kids which they colored, and put dinosaurs and stuff on."

On the back end, the children will manage information on the Web site (www.foundationware.com /kesslerkids), adding new school events, creating newsletters, submitting art and sending e-mails to parents, said Strauss.

The students were given the project to complete during Christmas break, and the last templates were turned in a couple of weeks ago. Students who designed the Web site have passwords and can access the site.

"The school posts its (scheduled) activities, and it’s a wonderful communication tool between parents and the school," said Donna Jarman, principal of Kessler. "It was quite an educational process, as the consultants took the time to explain (things) to the children at a level they could comprehend."

The school currently has four computers, and Yahoo! Broadcast, a division of Yahoo! that delivers Web-casting services to businesses and services, plans to donate several more, said Chris Homan, a manager at Yahoo! Broadcast (fusion.yahoo.com /broadcast), which is located in Deep Ellum.

MediaDefined has plans to expand its program to other organizations in the future.


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