Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Feb 26, 2009

A TECHNOLOGY firm has launched a range of remote headphones for children.

County Durham-based Ameeca has developed StoryPhones, a wireless MP3 audio system for use in schools.

And the company, run by husband and wife team Dr Simon and Eleanor Johnson, turned to Newcastle-based market research agency Marketwise Strategies.

StoryPhones was launched nationwide last month and is available as an innovative education tool for schools and learning centres The audio system allows children to listen to stories, music, songs and games, while also being able to record themselves to develop language skills.

The company is predicting turnover of pounds 1m this year.

Marketwise Strategies managing director Jacquie Potts said: “There were three stages to the project: Initial proof of concept research, market entry research and marketing strategy development. At each stage we worked very closely with Ameeca, to help develop the product and the ways in which it would be marketed.

“We interviewed more than 150 teachers of literacy at nursery, reception and primary school across England and Scotland. We also spoke to specialist literacy advisors and consultants. The response was excellent and almost three quarters of the teachers were interested in using StoryPhones.”

Dr Simon added: “We’re hoping to develop more products over the next few years. The StoryPhones have been received so well and they’re only in the early launch stages. We’ll be going back to Marketwise Strategies again.”