ViaGrafix Computer Training Videos
Learn...by Simply Watching TV
Company
ViaGrafix was founded by Mike Webster in 1990. Five years earlier, Mike’s brother Bob founded his own company named American Small Business Computers. In 1995, the two companies merged to share their programming skills. ViaGrafix started with two employees but grew to 161 by 1998. The company was acquired by Learn2.com in 1999.
Based on an article from DesignNews written in 1998, working at ViaGrafix sounds kinda fun:
"We have a very informal atmosphere here," says Bob Webster, vice president and co-founder of ViaGrafix. "Someone came in the other day and remarked about how people here didn't have to wear ties, and just then someone walked by with no shoes on. We demand performance, but don't care how people dress as long as the work gets done."
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"We like to have fun and make a profit," Bob Webster says, adding that ViaGrafix's headquarters feature an indoor tennis court, a day care for employees' children, and a basketball court. The company occasionally organizes basketball and tennis tournaments for employees.
Products
I remember seeing ads for ViaGrafix’s tutorials all over the place in the 90s. We had a couple at work. I think one was for Quark Xpress. According to a snapshot of the website from 1997, “ViaGrafix has been making Computer Training Products for over 6 years now. We are the leader in the computer training industry, with over 450 different training titles”.
The June 1992 issue of Electronics Australia announced the introduction of the tutorials to Australia:
“A new range of videotapes makes it possible to learn any of the major software packages in an easier and more convenient manner than using conventional manuals.
Produced by ViaGrafix in the USA and endorsed by MicroSoft, the tapes allow novices and experienced users alike to learn about a new package at their own pace. The tapes can also be used by other individuals, making them suitable for schools, colleges and other training institutions.
There are two series of videotapes currently available, the 'Introduction to...' series (all priced at $30 each) and the more advanced 'Professional' series with the price range from $75 to $90 each. Packages supported include DOS, Windows, PC Tools, Harvard Graphics, Norton Utilities, dBase IV, Lotus 1-2-3, DesignCAD, BASIC, C and Pascal. Many of the Professional Series tapes come complete with a learning diskette. Being original training material, the tapes qualify for the Training Levy. Mail order purchase is available.”
I was under the impression that creating video tutorials was their main business. When I started researching this post, I found references to a CAD program they made. The previously referenced snapshot of the website says, “Recently we acquired American Small Business Computers "ASBC." ViaGrafix is now the proud maker of DesignCAD software. We have over 20 exciting CAD related products, including DesignCAD for Windows 95 2D and 3D.” (I’ll cover this in the future.)
The DesignNews article noted that most of the company’s revenue was generated by its tutorials:
“Most of the company's revenue comes from PC-based training videos and interactive CD-ROMs ViaGrafix produces that show users how to use software through interaction. The company develops and markets more than 650 computer-based training courses, which may make it one of the leaders in that industry. At last year's COMDEX trade show, ViaGrafix had four booths showing off their training programs, including those that show how to use Windows NT.”
You can find a bunch of the ViaGrafix tutorials on YouTube. If you’re feeling nostalgic for older software, check out one of these tutorials.
Did you ever watch a ViaGrafix tutorial? Do you know anything about its history? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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