StoryMaker 3 continues the development that took StoryMaker 2 through numerous enhancements.
New features include:
StoryMaker now runs in a screen resolution of 1024x768. This is particularly important for those using notebook computers or LCD or TFT monitors, since changing resolution on such displays does not give satisfactory results.
Reinforcements for pages and books have been completely reworked. Now video reinforcements allow different sections of a video to be specified for each page of a book (rather than the whole video playing for each page). This means StoryMaker 3 can be used as a tool for teaching sequences of actions, such a crossing the road, making a bed, washing hands etc. This adds a whole new dimension to StoryMaker.
Reinforcements can also be used simply with playing a book, not just with clicking on the words or recreating a book.
Reinforcements can now be exported with a book and imported on another computer that also has StoryMaker 3 installed. Sequences specified for video reinforcements are also exported and imported if desired.
StoryMaker 3 runs at 32 bit color depth (as opposed to 16 bit for StoryMaker 2). This means images from digital cameras display with much better quality.
We have upgraded our authoring software which has allowed us to greatly increase the range of videos that can be used for rewards with improved quality of display. Videos formats that can be used now include MPEG-1, MPEG-4, WMV, AVI, MOV, RA (RealVideo). As long as appropriate codecs are installed MPEG-2 (DVD format) can also be used - these codecs are installed when a software DVD player is installed on the computer. These are widely available. The same applies to DivX .
This means videos can be downloaded off the internet or created from a digital camera or digital video camera, and almost any video creation software will produce files StoryMaker can read.
Video sections can be specified for each page of a book with all these formats except for RealVideo.
MP3 audio files can also be used as rewards.
Numerous other improvements have been made to StoryMaker. All of these have tried to maintain the simplicity of the program and its operation.

Features we are looking at adding (available for download for those who have already purchased StoryMaker 3):
Support for wma audio
Extending the ability to specify sections of a reinforcement for different pages to include mp3 or wma audio, not just with video. This would mean for example, a book could be the words of a song with each verse as a page of a book, and that verse is played as a reinforcement after each page.
Our goal with StoryMaker development currently is provide more tools to assist with the child learning meaning, not just words. Developing the use of rewards are the current way we are seeking to facilitate this.

What was new in StoryMaker 2:
StoryMaker 2 saw many advances through it various versions, including the database increased from 750 to over 3,100 words for US and New Zealand versions.

A dictionary can be created for each child from which stories can be created. Alternatively, a dictionary of all words in the database (including words added by the user) can be used to create sentences or books. These dictionary are accessed alphabetically.

Multiple install options were made available including installing fully to hard disk. This enables the CD to be removed once the program has started. A site version was created for schools which removes the need for the CD entirely. Install options include the selection of the language.

WMF, EPS and PNG pictures support was added. WMF and EPS files are automatically converted to JPG by storyMaker and stored on hard disk for future use. Pictures can also be accessed directly from CD (those chosen will automatically be coped to hard disk by StoryMaker for future use).

Access to all the pictures in StoryMaker's database was added.

Support for overlay keyboards such as IntelliKeys or Concept keyboards was added.

Added words were no longer distinguished by an * in front of the word.When a word identical to a word in the database is added, the database word is replaced (until the added word is removed).

When adding words with an apostrophe s (i.e. 's) StoryMaker will use the sound for a plural if available so a new sound does not need to be recorded.

The words in the database, any category, in the added word list or in the child's dictionary can now be printed out.