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Ask.Com Launches All-New Ask Kids Search Engine

Posted on: Wednesday, 27 August 2008, 09:00 CDT

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With school back in session and families gearing up for the nightly homework grind, Ask.com announces the upgrade and expansion of its popular children's and tweens' search engine, Ask Kids (http://www.askkids.com/). Built with Ask.com's proprietary search technology, Ask Kids delivers a search experience unlike anything for kids on the Internet today -- including more relevant, kid-friendly search results presented in the most graphically vivid display of any major search engine. The Ask Kids launch advances Ask.com's strategy of using its core search technology to fuel vertical search properties such as RushmoreDrive.com, the search engine for the Black community, launched in April 2008.

Studies prove that visual learning improves children's comprehension, retention, critical thinking, and organization.* Additionally, children are better at "mousing" than typing. Ask Kids was built with this in mind, and organizes search results in a graphically vivid three-panel display that includes SmartAnswers and related images, current events, videos and encyclopedia results. For example, a child who enters the query "George Washington" will see options to narrow their results with "Facts on George Washington," along with options to expand their results to learn about the "Declaration of Independence,""American Revolution," and "Mount Vernon."

"Ask Kids is a big part of our company's heritage -- since launching in 1999 it has been hugely popular with kids, parents and schools. With nearly 10 years of learning from customer input and feedback, we've created a new search engine that's by far the best out there for kids," said Scott Garell, President of Ask.com. "Powered by Ask.com's proprietary search technology, Ask Kids captures kids' imaginations while offering real answers to what kids and parents are searching for every day. By creating a fun, helpful and vibrant search experience that was made just for kids, we're building early relationships with future Ask.com consumers."

Ask Kids, named by SmartTeaching.org as one of the "100 Awesome, Free Web Tools for Elementary Teachers," features the following:

-- Customizable Homepage -- the new Ask Kids homepage is interactive to inspire artistic expression and fun with the tools in the Draw It! Pen box including pens and virtual stickers.

-- Schoolhouse -- Find easy-to-access homework help and search tools for popular school subjects including Science, Math, History, Language Arts and Geography. Narrow by subject, check out learning resources, or filter tools by age.

-- Conversion Tool Kit -- Kids can convert world currency, temperature, weight, length, area and even cooking/volume conversions.

-- Reference Tools -- Dictionary Search provides word definitions, pronunciations, and origins; Thesaurus Search offers a full-range of synonym options.

-- Movies -- Kids can easily search for all the latest film information -- from their current favorite blockbusters to the next PG-13, PG- and G-rated flicks.

-- Games -- Featuring free games and the unique ability to filter by age, this is sure to please those in need of a quick brainteaser.

-- Video Search -- Kids can search dozens of safe video content providers who offer useful research, including Animal Planet, BBC, Discovery and PBS.

-- Image Search -- Kids can find celebrity headshots, vacation destinations, space explorations, landscapes and more.

Favorite Ask.com proprietary features and tools integrated into Ask Kids include:

-- Binoculars -- With one click the Binoculars Site Preview icon saves kids time with an easy-to-read search preview.

-- Smart Answers -- Fast, straightforward information is provided right at the top of the search results, with extra context and information related to the main query.

-- Zoom Related Search -- Kids can easily narrow or broaden searches with possible alternative terms through Zoom Related Search, which appears on the left side of the search results page

-- AskEraser -- Ask.com's famous privacy tool is on 100% of the time in the Ask Kids site, so kids and parents can search knowing their privacy is protected.

Each web site in the Ask Kids core search index was selected by the Ask.com editorial team as child-appropriate or as a relevant and practical site for reference and learning. Ask's proprietary search algorithm then identified communities and collections of web sites linked to the core list, and filtered those to remove adult content.

*(The Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education (IARE) at AEL research study entitled Graphic Organizers: A Review of Scientifically Based Research) 2003

About Ask.com

Ask.com, a wholly-owned business of IAC , is one of the leading general search engines on the Internet. The Ask Network of sites is the 7th largest U.S. property on the Internet according to July 2008 comScore data and has more than 125 million worldwide unique monthly users (June 2008 comScore). Ask.com syndicates its search technology and advertising solutions to a network of affiliate partners.

Ask Kids by Ask.com

CONTACT: Amanda Conti of Ask.com, +1-510-520-1798

Web site: http://www.askkids.com/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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