Binoculars.com Launches Free Online Tutorial in Time for Holidays

DULUTH, MN (PRWEB) December 10, 2003 -– When confronted with terms like “objective lens” or “porro prism, ” people don’t always see the binoculars they’re buying as clearly as they should.

DULUTH, MN (PRWEB) December 10, 2003 -

– When confronted with terms like “objective lens” or “porro prism, ” people don’t always see the binoculars they’re buying as clearly as they should. That’s why Binoculars.com released a free multimedia online tutorial called Dr. Binoculars.

By clicking the link on the Binoculars.com home page, visitors can access a variety of easy-to-understand lessons delivered by a real person with the help of simple graphic animation. Subtitles are provided in addition to an audio voice.

The tutorial, which seeks to demystify technical language and empower consumers to make educated choices, was unveiled in November – just in time for the holiday shopping season.

“Dr. Binoculars is a first for the industry,” said Jonathan Thralow, Director of Marketing and Technology. “The best answers have always been buried in pages of FAQ’s and most were dry and boring. Dr. Binoculars makes learning fun with the aid of multiple props and flash animations to help convey difficult concepts.”

Dr. Binoculars remains impartial in all of his teachings; he makes sure not to recommend any one brand over another. The aim is simply to help customers make informed decisions.

And that’s become easier as more people get broadband Internet access, which allows companies like Binoculars.com to improve the presentation and amount of information they can share with the public.

An in-house production team at Binoculars.com created the tutorial using modern digital video, flash technology and green screen editing combined with Adobe Aftereffects, QuickTime and “old-fashioned sweat,” Thralow explained. The mood and appearance of the tutorial were inspired by the special effects of science fiction movies, with the Dr. Binoculars character played by recognized Minnesota poet Luis Jenkins. Jenkins has performed in numerous settings, including Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” radio show.

The online service is an extension of the phone support Binoculars.com has offered customers for the past seven years.

“Most people who call us do so to ask fairly technical questions about binoculars,” Thralow said. “Dr. Binoculars is really the creation of our phone support in an electronic format.”

But the doctor wasn’t invented as a way to slow down the phones. People are still encouraged to call if they are unclear about any of the topics covered in the tutorials.

“This project has also given us the chance to gauge the interest for this kind of online learning. So far it’s been very good. Within the first week of its launch, more than 1,000 people have taken the Dr. Binoculars course,” Thralow said. “We’ve only released the most basic lessons for the holiday season. The next lessons will be available soon.”

About Binoculars.com –

Founded in 1994, Binoculars.com is a comprehensive source for virtually all makes and models of binoculars, with product reviews, rankings and tutorials designed to educate consumers. It is a division of Thralow Inc., a Duluth, Minn.-based company specializing in niche-oriented e-commerce businesses, including: Telescopes.com, Peepers.com, Pans.com and Eyewear.com. Duluth is located in northeastern Minnesota, where scenic views of Lake Superior and surrounding boreal forests provide an ideal testing ground for an emerging optics company.

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