Numedeon, Inc. is a privately held company based in Pasadena, California, that since 1999 has been developing immersive online digital learning technology. Best known for creating the children's educational web site "'' Whyville''", Numedeon has also developed a number of other immersive online learning environments for other demographics and purposes. Numedeon was founded by Dr. James M. Bower and several of his students and colleagues at the

California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...

"N.I.C.E." The Numedeon Interactive Community Engine

Numedeon's immersive

virtual worlds A virtual world (also called a virtual space) is a computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many users who can create a personal avatar, and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities ...

are based on a proprietary online platform developed since 1999 through operation of its immersive learning environments. Core component of this engine are protected by U.S. Patents. N.I.C.E. "runs on a standard web browser, and can be run on a 56K modem".

Whyville

''Whyville'' was launched in 1999 as an educational Internet site geared towards children aged 8–14 to engage its users in learning about a broad range of topics, including science, business, art and geography. ''Whyville'' has a registered user base of over 7 million. Its users ("Whyvillians") engage in virtual world simulation-based games and role play sponsored by a wide range of governmental, non-profit and corporate entities. Educational research based on ''Whyville'' has recently been published in the book ''Connected Play: Tweens in a Virtual World'', written by Yasmin B. Kafai, Deborah A. Fields, and Mizuko Ito.

Other Immersive Learning Worlds

In addition to ''Whyville'', Numedeon has used its NICE engine to build a number of other virtual immersive learning worlds, including, for example, Humanaville, a virtual world for seniors.

Virtual Worlds IP

In January 2015, Numedeon established Virtual Worlds IP Inc as a subsidiary company specifically to manage Numedeon's accumulated

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...

and to form

joint venture A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and economic risk, risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four rea ...

s with Numedeon's partners to launch new products based on Numedeon's technology. In September 2015, Virtual Worlds IP announced its first joint venture Fundamental Learning LLC as a partnership with

Education Development Center Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit organization to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity across the United States and in more than 80 other countries. EDC headquarters are in Waltham, Massachu ...

Waltham, Massachusetts Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, ...

References

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External links

Numedeon website
Companies based in Los Angeles County, California