IMC AG the leading provider of learning technologies, has won this year’s IT INNOVATION PRIZE of the "Initiative Mittelstand". In the "e-learning" category, it triumphed with its LIVECONTEXT product, a software solution for workstation-integrated learning, as the best IT innovation for SMEs. "This honour will lend further stimulus to our latest product, particularly in view of the 2.0 release", IMC CEO Dr. Wolfgang Kraemer enthuses over the success. This facilitates, amongst other things, the integration of the IMC authoring tool LECTURNITY which was 2008 INNOVATION PRIZE winner and also the visualisation of work procedures and processes directly from LIVECONTEXT.

LIVECONTEXT – where help arrives immediately.
Many software users are familiar with this situation: Right in the middle of the work process a desirable function cannot be found, filling in an operator screen is unclear or the progress of a booking procedure is unintelligible. What do I do? Pore over the manuals, call the helpdesk, ask colleagues? Everything is very time consuming and always involves an inconvenient interruption of work. The context-sensitive learning aid, LIVECONTEXT offers direct support without forced breaks and media disruptions.  The software sits as a glass panel over the respective application, analyses it and identifies all the windows, screen masks and input fields. As a result, LIVECONTEXT can subtly guide the user through processes and offer context-sensitive help when something is unclear: automatic input information, prepared selection fields, integrated documentation, text suggestions or even available learning units like videos or podcasts.  Release changes or upgrades will also no longer be a problem: LIVECONTEXT shows the user exactly in which place changes have been made.

User training takes place whilst working in the application itself. Long hours of training are omitted in favour of micro-learning units which are timely and tailored to suit requirements. These are particularly attractive competitive advantages for the SME. "Those who receive the correct support at the right time and in the right place do not make any mistakes. This reduces costs for the company, takes the pressure off the helpdesk, improves the quality of the data and increases employee acceptance to work with the software", outlines Kraemer.

Background
The Initiative Mittelstand and Huber Verlag have awarded the IT INNOVATION PRIZE for new media for the 7th time. The 80-strong expert jury made up of professors, scientists, industry representatives and specialist journalists judge the submitted proposals according to a pre-determined set of criteria. The criteria are innovative content (innovation, product maturity and future orientation), benefit (recognisable benefits, effect on profitability, increase in efficiency) and suitability for SMEs (relevance for SMEs, practicality, implementation). Around 2000 products and services had applied for the prize this year which was awarded in 35 specialist and 18 country categories.