Press releases

2007-11-19
AN ONLINE VISUAL DICTIONARY WITH A NEW POINT OF VIEW

SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 2007— This month Merriam-Webster, America’s most respected language reference publisher, and QA International—a leading developer and producer of visually innovative reference works—have joined forces to introduce a new component to illustrated references on the Web: the Visual Dictionary Online (www.visualdictionaryonline.com). Visitors to the new site may either search ideas within organized subject fields to quickly locate more than 20,000 terms with full definitions or consult more than 6,000 stunning illustrations of a wide variety of objects from all aspects of life.

Navigating Merriam-Webster’s Visual Dictionary Online is effortless and a great deal of fun. 15 major themes offer a variety of engaging, browsable topics. Students can search for illustrated science topics like nuclear fission, anatomy of a frog, and plant cell. Train buffs can scroll through the rail transport section. Homeowners can follow the plumbing system or browse the do-it-yourself section. Or, users can type a term like narwhal into the easy index search box to zero in on an illustration of the marine creature with a spiraled, ten-foot tusk.

“Following the success of last year’s Merriam-Webster’s Visual Dictionary”, said John M. Morse, Publisher and President of Merriam-Webster, Inc., “we’re thrilled to extend our relationship with QA International and to broaden our reach with the launch of the online version. QA shares our company’s dedication to quality and excellence, and was the perfect choice to partner with on a project with the scope and magnitude of the Visual Dictionary Online.”

“The collaboration with Merriam-Webster has helped add an exciting new dimension to our state-of-the-art graphic images,” said Caroline Fortin, Publisher and Vice-President of QA International. “The result is a unique visual experience that goes beyond object-identification to answer questions about function, significance, and purpose.”

Additional features include a Game of the Week, played by associating words with images, and audio pronunciations spoken by real voices. Visual Dictionary Online.com is ideal for teachers, parents, translators, and students of all ages and skill levels.

Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Merriam-Webster Inc. acquired the rights to revise and publish Noah Webster’s dictionaries in 1843. Since then, Merriam-Webster has maintained an ongoing commitment to innovation, scholarship, and love of language. Today, the company continues as the leader in both print and electronic language reference publishing with reference products, learning tools, and word games. For more information about the company, visit Merriam-Webster OnLine at www.Merriam-Webster.com.

QA International

QA INTERNATIONAL is a leading publisher and creator of visually innovative reference works. Recognized as a pioneer for designing and publishing outstanding products for the international market, QA INTERNATIONAL has earned a solid reputation among partners around the world. Renowned for its remarkable design, eye-catching illustrations and solid content, QA INTERNATIONAL is the leader when it comes to visually innovative reference content. For more information about the company, visit www.qa-international.com.