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Ask.com Relaunches Kid-Friendly Search Engine, AskKids.com

By: Justin Bourne

Posted: 08/29/2008

The not-so-popular search engine Ask.com has employed a new approach to child protection - and search market optimization - with the relaunch of its revamped and kid-friendly site AskKids.com.

The search engine metrics firm has presumably overhauled AskKids.com in an attempt to raise search market percentages in a time when parents are more concerned with protecting their children on the Internet.

Included in the restoration are a new, eye-catching landing page and search function titled "Schoolhouse," which allows kids to look up movies, videos, games and images.

According to official information on the website, studies prove that visual learning improves children's comprehension, retention, critical thinking and organization. "Additionally, children are better at ‘mousing' than typing," it reads. "AskKids.com was built with this in mind and organizes search results in a graphically vivid three-panel display that includes Smart Answers and related images, current events, videos and encyclopedia results."

Other improvements allow kids to draw on Web pages with a pencil, pen or highlighter and display virtual "stickers."

Ask.com captures anywhere from 1.5 to 5 percent of the search market in any given month.

For more information, visit the Ask.com or AskKids.com websites.