ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 12, 1996 TAG: 9612120037
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-10 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Computer Bits
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
The mail - the old-fashioned, paper-based, go-to-the-Post-Office-and-pick-it-up kind of mail - brought word this past week about a couple of Worldwide Web sites just for kids.
Curiocity's FreeZone provides a cyberspace environment for children aged 8 to 14. Its Chat Box gives kids across the world the chance to communicate with each other, and parents the comfort of an interactive Web site that its fully monitored by specially trained adults, according to the site's owners.
The site is owned by Thomson Target Media of Chicago and Free Range Media of Seattle and is designed as an on-line companion to Thomson's newest print products: "curiocity for kids" and "curiocity's BrainStorm.''
In addition to chat, the site offers sports articles, rule books, adventure travel articles, news, graphics, and a resource for parents and teachers on kids' safety issues. To access it, you need a modem (anything below 28.8 may be too slow) and a Web browser (Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0 are recommended).
The other site, Little Explorers, from Enchanted Learning Software of Mercer Island, Wash., makes it easy for preschool and elementary school kids to surf the Internet. Kids use a picture dictionary format to link to games and educational activities.
Kids also can play on-line connect-the-dots, read nursery rhymes, see craft and art ideas and travel to other fun and educational sites from the Little Explorers site.
Sports racing sites
Yokohama Tire Corp., whose U.S. manufacturing plant is in Salem, has set up a new Web site that provides visitors with information on tire design and the latest motor sports racing events.
One feature of the site, Tire Selector, allows customers to fit the perfect tire to their car, truck or sport/utility vehicle, the company says.
Landscape architect
Another site with local connections is that of the Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. It was developed by Wayne Wilcox, a landscape architect with Anderson & Associates Inc., a Blacksburg engineering, planning and landscape architecture firm.
The site introduces visitors to the profession of landscape architecture, including information of how to become a landscape architect. It also offers tips on selecting a landscape architect and links visitors to sites such as Virginia Tech's and the University of Virginia's departments of landscape architecture, the American Society of Landscape Architects home page, Virginia maps and GardenNet.
Websites in today's column
CURIOCITY'S FREEZONE
http:\\www.Freezone.com
LITTLE EXPLORERS
http:\\www.EnchantedLearning.com/Dictionary.html
YOKOHAMA TIRE CORP.
http:\\www.yokohamatire.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
http:\\www.andassoc.com/va-asla/start.htm
You can contribute to this column or just comment by sending an e-mail to biznews@roanoke.infi.net or by calling 981-3393 or 981-3237 in the Roanoke Valley, or (800) 346-1234, extension 393, outside the Roanoke area.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB