Muppet Learning Keys

Muppet Learning Keys is a Muppet computer toy developed in 1984 by Christopher Cerf and Bill PradyE-mail correspondence with Bill Prady via Scott Hanson with Koala Technologies and Sunburst Communications. It was available for both the Commodore 64 and the Apple computer. The hardware/software combination was meant to teach children ages three and up how to type and start using a computer.
The basic set sold in 1984 came with The Muppet Discovery Disk, which offered three activities: "Discovery", "Letters" and "Numbers". 
"Discovery" presented a drawing of the Muppet Theater stage, with a placard on each side. When the player taps a letter, it appears on the left placard, and an image of an object that begins with that letter is seen on the stage. When the player taps a number, it appears on the right placard, and the number of objects on the stage changes. Players can experiment with different combinations of letters and numbers. As an added bonus, five Muppet characters appeared when the first letter of their name is selected: Kermit the Frog appears with kites, Miss Piggy with pretzels, Fozzie Bear as a fireman with campfires, Gonzo with ghosts and Scooter with socks.
"Letters" and "Numbers" are quiz games, based on the associations learned in the "Discovery" game. "Letters" presents an object at the top of a pillar, and the player must choose the letter that begins the name of that object. Incorrect guesses are greeted with a sour razz sound; correct guesses are rewarded with a little animation of the object, each with its own sound. In "Numbers", the player is shown a three-by-three grid resembling the Muppet Show arches, with a number of objects displayed in the arches. The player must choose the correct number of objects to continue.
Sunburst Communications produced four additional educational Muppet programs: Muppetville (1986), Muppet Word Book (1986), Muppet Slate (1988) and Muppet Math (1991). In addition, The Muppet Discovery Disk was retitled Muppets on Stage in 1987, and published as a separate program.
The Sesame Street title Astro-Grover by Hi Tech Expressions was also released in a Muppet Learning Keys-compatible version. The non-Muppet titles include Teddy & Iggy,"Kids' Time: Making Computers Accessible to Kids is Easy with the Right Equipment", Leslie Eiser, Compute! issue 113, October 1989. Keytalk"Computer applications", SAGE Journals. and 1-2-3 Sequence Me.Universal Videogame List.
MuppetLearningKeys-top.jpg
MuppetLearningKeys-boxback.jpg
File:discovery disk.jpg
File:Muppets_On_Stage_screen_1_-_title.png
File:muppets on stage 1.jpg
File:muppets on stage 2.jpg
File:muppets on stage 4.jpg
File:muppets on stage 5.jpg
File:muppets on stage 6.jpg
File:muppets on stage 7.jpg
File:muppets on stage 8.jpg
File:muppet learning keys ad.jpg
==Promotion==
The product was promoted by Beaker on the television show Family Computing, and in a photo featuring Miss Piggy spoofing "the Apple IIc girl."
Larrysturholm.jpg
Piggy_apple_mac.JPG
==Sources==
==External links==
* Muppets on Stage at the Internet Archive
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Muppet Video Games
Category:Sunburst Communications