An Open Source Environment to Construct Information Services for Children

PuppyIR

PuppyIR is a project co-funded by the European Union under the 7^th Framework ICT Programme (INFSO-IST-231507). The project which will run for 3 years is formed of 8 complementary partners: it combines technology providers, user organizations and parties with an interest in the exploitation of project results. 

Developing children’s abilities to find and understand information is a key to their development as young adults. The Internet offers children exciting new ways to meet people, learn about different cultures and develop their creative potential.

However, children’s ability to use the Internet is severely hampered by the lack of appropriate search tools. Most Information Retrieval (IR) systems are designed for adults: they return information in a form that is unsuitable for children.

PuppyIR will help children searching the Internet safely.

PuppyIR will construct an Open Source Framework that will provide the infrastructure to develop ‘child-focused’ and ‘child-friendly’ components to be deployed within child information services.
 

Surprisingly, the commercial world has not found its way yet to develop adapted information services to children and teens, except for the gaming industry. This is why PuppyIR will be developed at the right time by a consortium that has the necessary knowledge to proceed.