Lynette Mattke '91 is the creator of PicPocket Books, an application that allows users to download children's picture books to iPhones or iPods.
When Lynette (Karpoff) Mattke '91 first encountered audio children's books on her husband's iPhone, she realized something was missing: illustrations.“You could hear about Curious George riding a bike, but you couldn't see him,” she says.
That's why Mattke, a former English major with training as an elementary school teacher and, she says, a“real love of literature,” came up with the idea for the iPhone application PicPocket Books. PicPocket recreates the experience of reading a printed children's book aloud, complete with audio, color illustrations, and automatic page-turning.
In the spring of 2009 Mattke teamed up with her computer-savvy husband, Manuel Mattke '90, and another partner to develop a prototype of software that would enable books to be published on the iPhone. Then the Silver Spring, Md.-based team approached a local publisher, Woodbine House in Bethesda, and secured PicPocket's first title, Eliza Woloson's My Friend Isabelle, about a girl with special needs.
Today, PicPocket offers 17 titles, with four more in production. Each title can be downloaded as a separate application that costs anywhere from $.99 to $3.99, and publishers receive a share of the revenue.“Publishers are interested because they're curious about the new market,” says Mattke.“And the production time is much reduced from what it takes to put out a print book, so we can reach a global market overnight.” Mattke has also received inquiries from children's authors whose books are out of print.
The PicPocket technology is simple to use for children who have access to their parents' phones or iPods. Along with audio and video, the application includes a highlighting feature that helps toddlers learn to read by emphasizing the connection between the written and spoken word:“It's like moving your finger along with the sentence,” says Mattke. A soon-to-be added component will allow adults to record their own voices reading the stories with a built-in microphone.
“If you're visiting your grandmother, she can read a story and record the vocal track, so back at home you can listen to Grandma's voice read your favorite book,” explains Mattke.
Mattke sees PicPocket Books as a healthy alternative to video games.“You get the same educational benefits as reading a paper book, and children increase their focus and vocabulary.” One satisfied parent told her,“It's the first time I haven't felt guilty about handing my iPhone to my kid.”
Mattke's family has been overwhelmingly supportive of her entrepreneurial endeavor. Husband Manuel, with his tech background, has been helpful in creating software platforms and business presentations. Her two daughters, ages 15 and 13, approve of her use of Twitter and Facebook to promote the applications. And her nine-year-old son reports that his favorite way to unwind after school is to pick up the iPhone and scroll through the books.
As for Mattke herself, she's loving her leap back into the professional world.“I've taught myself a lot about social networking and marketing,” she says.“I'm a total convert!”
