ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030084
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NICEVILLE, FLA.
SOURCE: BILL KACZOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
It took aerospace engineer Victor Maynard 12 hours to reprogram his home computer after his 18-month-old son gave the keyboard a playful whack, crashing the system.
That sent Maynard and his wife, Kendall, in search of a childproof keyboard.
``We said, `Well, let's look at the market and see if there's a keyboard for him since he's so interested in the computer,' '' Maynard recalled.
What did they find?
``Nothing. Zero,'' he said.
So Maynard invented a keyboard that is resistant to hard knocks, spilled milk, sticky fingers and inadvertent wipeouts. And three years later Kidtech Inc. has sold 1,600 My First Keyboards, which are geared for children 18 months to 5 years old.
My First Keyboard has only 55 keys but includes all the letters and numbers from 0 to 9. Letters are arranged alphabetically for kids still learning their ABCs instead of typewriter style.
Keys are color-coded - letters yellow, numbers green and other functions blue. The red case has a membrane surface impervious to spills and easy to wipe clean.
My First Keyboard wasn't born overnight. While Maynard had the technical expertise, he knew little about computer hardware when he began.
``We had to learn as you go,'' he said. ``When we started, we actually took a standard keyboard apart just to see what was in it. That's how ignorant we were.''
The couple built 20 prototypes with the work migrating from their bedroom to the dining room and living room before they went into production 16 months ago.
Through networking and the phone book they found parts suppliers, like Sanders Manufacturing Co., which makes the keyboard's high-impact plastic case. They also found a company, Micron Sytems Inc., to assemble their product.
Now, with their product complete, the hard part has been getting the word out about their creation. Unable to afford a high-priced advertising campaign, they rely on word-of-mouth and free publicity in newspapers, magazines, the Internet and television, including an appearance on ``Live - Regis & Kathy Lee.''
Most of their sales so far have been in computer stores, but that's not where they expect to sell most of the keyboards.
``We found out - now it seems obvious - the mom's the primary purchaser,'' Maynard said. ``The hurdle is to get the moms aware of this product.''
My First Keyboard is IBM-compatible and no special software is needed although programs for learning the alphabet and counting are included. It can be connected to an adult keyboard and has a switch that turns one on and the other off.
Control, alternate and delete keys have been omitted to prevent inadvertent data losses or crashes. It cannot be activated until the computer has finished booting up.
``That way even if they're banging on it, it's not going to hurt the files,'' Maynard said, noting the crash that inspired his invention was caused when his son Troy hit the control key during bootup.
Another thing the Maynard's are hoping to win over parents with is the price. Originally $79 to $99, it now sells for $49.
``It looks like to move in this category, the prices are going to have to be more at the level of a toy,'' Maynard said.
``If kids aren't on computers early and they don't learn to use those as part of their everyday life,'' he says, ``they are going to be eaten alive.''
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Troy Maynard tries out My First Keyboard while hisby CNBparents, Victor and Kendall Maynard, look on.