The program puts a diverse human face on science. The simple interface builds user confidence to interact with technology. The navigation is menu and not map-based, as navigation by girls tends to be based on reference points rather than spatial orientation. These can be distracting and irritating for girls. Instead, we use the human voice and simple, often humorous, sound effects, which we find are very powerful Science is framed as a process of answering questions, an expression of human curiosity.
Experiments are self-instructing.
They are not timed, nor are they competitive. Users have some choices, such as the order in which data are collected. In the experiments, users are invited to be a member of the scientist's team. As feedback, they receive simulated e-mail from the scientists. Start with a Story is a registered trademark of McLean Media.