William Keylor Teams with Muzzy Lane Software
Thursday, Jan 06, 2005
NEWBURYPORT, Mass., January 6, 2005 - Muzzy Lane Software has enlisted Boston University historian William R. Keylor, Ph.D, as Research Advisor on "Making History™: The Calm and the Storm", the company’s computer simulation game for higher education that focuses on the causes and consequences of WWII.
Dr. Keylor has published dozens of books and scholarly papers on world history, including the critically-acclaimed titles: "The Twentieth Century World: An International History;" and "A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945."
"We are thrilled to have Bill consulting with us," says Nick deKanter, vice president of Muzzy Lane Software. "He is well known as both a scholar and an educator. He will guide the research team that is responsible for the historical accuracy of our game scenarios. Our simulation game incorporates not just the facts of history but models the political, economic, diplomatic and military thinking in the key countries in the world at that point in time."
"Making History" is the first interactive software platform to employ artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer networking, real-time chat and other advanced software technologies in a format designed specifically for high schools and colleges. "Making History" allows students to run countries to achieve historical objectives and compete against each other in the interplay of nations.
"I don’t think this much detailed information has been compiled into one interactive source before," says Dr. Keylor. "The level of detail is quite astounding and it’s required so that the software can not only reflect historical events but enable students to change those events and see what course history takes. Our students today are very savvy with technology, but you don’t want the technology to take over. The best learning tools stimulate the kids to pursue knowledge, to ask questions, to face the uncertainties of history in a first-hand way."
"If you look at what’s going on the world today," continues Dr. Keylor, "you quickly appreciate the need for our youth to develop skills of critical thinking, for dealing with uncertainty and potentially profound consequences of how nations deal with each other."
Dr. Keylor is Director of the International History Institute, and is Professor of History and International Relations at Boston University. He holds degrees from Stanford (B.A. honors in history), and Columbia University (M.A., modern European history; Ph.D., modern European History).
Dr. Keylor has published dozens of books and scholarly papers on world history, including the critically-acclaimed titles: "The Twentieth Century World: An International History;" and "A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945."
"We are thrilled to have Bill consulting with us," says Nick deKanter, vice president of Muzzy Lane Software. "He is well known as both a scholar and an educator. He will guide the research team that is responsible for the historical accuracy of our game scenarios. Our simulation game incorporates not just the facts of history but models the political, economic, diplomatic and military thinking in the key countries in the world at that point in time."
"Making History" is the first interactive software platform to employ artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer networking, real-time chat and other advanced software technologies in a format designed specifically for high schools and colleges. "Making History" allows students to run countries to achieve historical objectives and compete against each other in the interplay of nations.
"I don’t think this much detailed information has been compiled into one interactive source before," says Dr. Keylor. "The level of detail is quite astounding and it’s required so that the software can not only reflect historical events but enable students to change those events and see what course history takes. Our students today are very savvy with technology, but you don’t want the technology to take over. The best learning tools stimulate the kids to pursue knowledge, to ask questions, to face the uncertainties of history in a first-hand way."
"If you look at what’s going on the world today," continues Dr. Keylor, "you quickly appreciate the need for our youth to develop skills of critical thinking, for dealing with uncertainty and potentially profound consequences of how nations deal with each other."
Dr. Keylor is Director of the International History Institute, and is Professor of History and International Relations at Boston University. He holds degrees from Stanford (B.A. honors in history), and Columbia University (M.A., modern European history; Ph.D., modern European History).