What's New

- optimized some images and content

App Description

Rated 5 stars out of 5 by Carisa Kluver of digital-storytime.com: "This is truly a must-download title. My highest recommendation! Overall, this is a phenomenal title that presents non-fiction content in a more modern way, letting kids explore and learn at their own pace, with or without narration. This title would be great for lessons on bullying, the Internet, biography and more."

4.5 stars (out of 5) at AppTudes.com.
"A unique e-book and a great read for older children and adults. There’s inspiration here in Edson’s genius, creativity and his stand against bullying." - Heather Leister, theiPhoneMom.com
TOP PICK by FunEducationalApps.com: "A superb and very inspiring e-book app for your kids to discover a fascinating story... Beautifully designed, well narrated, it will captivate your kids. A must-have book app that will empower your kids to think, build up confidence and show them that even if they feel different, lack confidence or are being bullied, there is always hope!"
"COOL TO BE CLEVER is an inspiring story that no parent or teacher should pass up and is highly recommended for children of all ages." -- AppsOnTapp.com
"This app combines history, computers, the Internet and some powerful messaging about bullying - all into one big nerd-friendly package. Although targeted at older children, parents and teachers will also find a lot of material to enjoy in this ebook." -- SmartAppsForKids.com

It's Cool to be Clever: the true story of Edson C. Hendricks, the genius who invented the design for the Internet.
Bullied as a child, Edson Hendricks went on to create the forerunner to the Internet. IT'S COOL TO BE CLEVER tells the true story of an inquisitive schoolboy in the 1950s who is bullied because he is so smart. He finds comfort in an imaginary world where he has machine parts, and no biological organs or emotions. Years later, Edson's strange capacity to "think like a machine" helps him create a way for computers to communicate. His "connectionless" network design is used in today's Internet.

Includes intriguing illustrations, story by Leanne Jones with narration by Edson Hendricks, and an original musical score. Read the latest info on preventing bullying at school. Loads of pre-Internet emails, anecdotes and other computer science archival material, 12 video interviews with Edson Hendricks and 3 audio interviews of author/composer Leanne Jones, exploration of the "genius" and "inventive" mind, predicting the future, first email virus, advice to programmers, the origin of tektites, and so much more.

Ideal for all ages, especially clever children 6+ and anyone with an interest in Internet history and inventing. How was the Internet really invented? The inspiring true story is revealed for the first time.

Featured in articles in Quill & Quire, Victoria Times-Colonist, Vancouver Province, Ottawa Citizen and other news outlets.

FEATURES
• a true inspiring story written by a former primary school teacher (now a private investigator), suitable for "chapter-book" reading level
• the latest information about preventing schoolyard bullying from the Red Cross, and The Council for Exceptional Children
• "teaching children of genius" advice from Leanne Jones
• "How my mind works" and "people who are different" interviews with a genius
• Hendricks' unorthodox insights into the origin of Earth's water and tektites
• "Evolution of a Virtual Machine Subsystem", the 1979 IBM Systems Journal article by Hendricks and Hartmann chronicling the technical development of VNET into a world-wide network years before the Internet was launched
• dozens of anecdotes about creating VNET and meetings with Vint Cerf and other scientists
• trip reports, internal memos and documents detailing IBM's bungled opportunity
• 160k log of pre-Internet emails between scientists debating standards.

iPad Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Cool to be Clever: Edson Hendricks screenshot 1 Cool to be Clever: Edson Hendricks screenshot 2 Cool to be Clever: Edson Hendricks screenshot 3 Cool to be Clever: Edson Hendricks screenshot 4 Cool to be Clever: Edson Hendricks screenshot 5

App Changes

  • December 10, 2011 New version 1.0.1
  • December 22, 2011 Price decrease: $6.99 -> $2.99
  • January 05, 2012 Price increase: $2.99 -> $6.99
  • February 09, 2012 Price decrease: $6.99 -> $2.99
  • March 16, 2012 New version 1.0.2
  • March 22, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> FREE!
  • April 01, 2012 Price increase: FREE! -> $2.99
  • April 02, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> FREE!
  • April 15, 2012 Price increase: FREE! -> $2.99
  • April 16, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> FREE!
  • May 15, 2012 Price increase: FREE! -> $2.99
  • May 17, 2012 Price decrease: $2.99 -> FREE!
  • July 31, 2013 Price increase: FREE! -> $6.99
  • August 10, 2013 Price decrease: $6.99 -> FREE!
  • September 19, 2015 Price increase: FREE! -> $1.99
  • December 28, 2015 Price decrease: $1.99 -> FREE!