Contractor Training Improvements

We've just finished another Contractor Training project that includes over an hour of produced audio/video training. We saw some benefit to switching from compressed videos to native flash animations, so we made the switch!

Unlike our site-specific training and retail course library, Contractor Training solutions present training across the internet where file sizes make a major difference in performance. Because of this, we decided to produce all of our Contractor Training in native flash animations going forward.

Here are the benefits to using native flash format:

Smaller file size
Because compressed videos must render every frame, pixel by pixel, the file sizes increase with more animation.

Better animation capability
Because native flash animations are vector-based, they can be animated, scaled, and moved without increasing file size.

Changes are mostly transparent to viewers
The interface is the same, but the training material is delivered quicker (with less buffering) and is a higher quality.

This is a partial screenshot from one page of our latest contractor training project. The text and gradient shapes are vector based, supplemented with a few bitmap images.

Integrated Catalog in Convergence Viewer Shows Other Course Formats

We've added some additional links on the details pages of our courses in the integrated catalog in Convergence Training Viewer. The links will show up when the course can be purchased in other formats. Most of our CBT titles are currently available in DVD format, and soon they will be available online via pay-per-view. You don't need to perform any updates to get this feature, it will be available when CTV connects to the catalog.

Online Courses via Pay-Per-View in Convergence Library

Convergence Training will soon be offering our course library in a new format - Online via pay-per-view. Customers will be able to purchase any number of views to our courses. After purchasing, we will generate tickets redeemable for course views. Simply login, enter your ticket, and take your training.

The benefits for our online courses:
- Take training anywhere internet access is available
- Only pay for the training you need
- Quickly and easily get training without complicated/expensive systems or setup
- Priced economically for today’s competitive economy

If you are interested in piloting our pay-per-view program, contact us today (info@thinkconvergence.com, 1.888.634.7346).

To see the topics currently offered in our environmental, health, safety, and msha libraries, visit our online store here.

Free Software Grows Legs, Breathes on Land

After getting some great feedback from our customers, we’re proud to announce the latest evolution of Convergence Training Viewer, or CTV. This update not only makes training easier and more efficient, it represents the missing link between computer-based training material and advanced training management tools.

Check out the newest features below and download your copy of Convergence Training Viewer or visit our website for more information.

		What's New	Why It Matters
View Image	Import Your Own Courses	You can now import courses you've created with popular authoring tools, or import SCORM courses you've purchased from other producers. If you're not familiar with SCORM, don't worry, most people aren't. It's basically a way to publish courses in a universal format. Click here for more info on SCORM.	By adding import functionality, we've turned CTV into a personal learning management system, or LMS. You can now deliver, track, and report results without the complicated software and expensive servers of a conventional LMS. And the best part is that Convergence Training Viewer is FREE!
View Image	Track Real-World Events	We understand that training isn't just about sitting in front of a computer. So we've created an easy way for you to enter, track, and run reports on any type of training event such as classroom activities, meetings, presentations, on-the-job training, and more!	Centralizing your training records saves time, keeps you organized, and makes reporting from one consistent source a breeze. With the click of a button, you can now keep a record of any training event and provide printed documentation to trainees, supervisors, or inspectors.
View Image	Backup Your Data	We've added a manual backup feature that lets you save the most recent copy of your data wherever you'd like.	The more training you do with CTV, the more valuable your training records become. So we've made sure you can always back up your data and recover it if you need to.
View Image	Recover Passwords	We've developed a password recovery protocol to help make sure you won't miss a training deadline or progress review because you can't access the software.	People forget things and when that happens, it shouldn't ruin your entire day. Nothing should stand in your way when it comes to getting work done.

Other New or Updated Features

• Help Tab - The Help tab provides information on our most popular features, includes basic step-by-step tutorials, and even lets you submit a support request directly to Convergence Training!


• Administration Interface - We've redesigned the tab layout to make better use of the space and set the stage so we can add more features down the road.


• Catalog Updates - Another tweak to the Catalog allows it to load more easily and automatically fill each page for
  convenient viewing of all our training products.


• Bug Fixes - Of course no software is complete without bugs, but we've managed to address everything that has come up so far. If you find something that’s not working quite right, be sure to let us know.

Get These New Features

First Time Downloading? - If you haven't downloaded our free CTV software, its simple. Just target="_blank" style="color: #9b1c1f; font-weight: bold;">visit our website, click the download link and follow the
on-screen instructions. Or, target="_blank" style="color: #9b1c1f; font-weight: bold;">click here for a direct download link.

Already Have CTV Installed? - If you already have a previous version of CTV installed, just "Check for Updates".
In the "Administration" screen, select the "Updates" tab and click the "Check for Updates" button. CTV will contact our
servers, perform the download and install the updates.

New Course: Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

I've uploaded several samples to YouTube from one of our recent training modules - Compress Gas Cylinder Safety. The full module includes over 23 minutes of training covering subjects such as a basic description of gas cylinders, how they are used, potential hazards, and best practices for storage, transport and use of compressed gas cylinders. This module is also now included in our Online Catalog featured in Convergence Training Viewer.

This course is combined with Compressed Air Fundamentals and offered as our Compressed Air package. These individual courses can be purchased starting at $39 for the computer-based version, or $49 for the DVD version. The combo-package is only $69 for the computer-based version, and $79 for the DVD version. To purchase, visit our online store and search for "compressed".

To view the latest samples, you can view my channel here: http://www.youtube.com/kdellavalle

Convergence Visits Northeast to Install Convergence Server LMS and Create Training Program

What would you do if you were managing a brand-new facility with a complicated production process and needed to get new hires, many of whom have never before worked in your industry, trained as quickly as possible?

For one paper-industry facility, the answer was simple: Install the Convergence Server Learning Management System (LMS) and have a team of Convergence's training experts create a curriculum of training materials that cover all aspects of your highly mechanized production process.

Convergence training experts recently visited a paper-industry facility in the northeastern United States to install the Convergence Server Learning Management System (LMS) and train key personnel in the plant's Training, Human Relations, and Information Technology departments how to use the system. Installation was quick and easy, with most processes completed in less than a day. Training sessions were held the next day, with personnel at the facility quickly grasping the functions of the powerful Convergence Server LMS due to its simple design and intuitive interface.

Another team of training experts from Convergence visited the facility to document and learn their production procedures and policies. In short order, the Convergence team designed a training curriculum which was quickly approved by the training department at the facility. Convergence then began writing and storyboarding the training modules, which will incorporate text, audio, impressive 3-D animations, still photographs, and custom graphics.

Update: The storyboards have been approved and Convergence's team of 3-D animators are preparing the modules today; they will be released to the facility soon, once complete.

Convergence Training Adds Two New Team Members

We would like to welcome two new designers to the Convergence Training team, Caleb Tilton and Michael Reese.

Caleb and Michael bring unique design, animation, and 3d skills to our creative team and will help us continue to meet our project deadlines and business goals. Caleb is currently working on a custom visitor/vendor/contractor training course and Michael is helping us with a site-specific paper machine training project.

Check out their professional portfolios below:



Caleb Tilton - http://www.calebtilton.com



and



Michael Reese - http://www.mikereese3d.com





To view a short bio for Caleb, Michael, and the entire Convergence Training team, visit the "About Us" section on our website.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Samples

Today we posted some samples of our upcoming Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety training course to YouTube. If you haven't visited our channel before, it's a great place see lots of samples of our training courses, demo projects, and other special projects that we take on from time to time.

Visit us on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/kdellavalle



You may also notice that Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety will now appear in the Online Catalog inside of our Training Viewer. It is currently under final review and should be available to download, try and purchase very soon.