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Cerego Introduces iKnow!, the First Intelligent Social Learning Platform

iKnow! empowers people to learn faster, remember longer, and manage their memory for a lifetime. iKnow!'s patented learning algorithms generate personalized learning schedules that improve the absorption and recall of chunks of learning content called "items." The algorithms are based on decades of research on optimum learning patterns in the fields of cognitive science and neuroscience. The end result is deeper learning at a faster pace.

"Research has shown that there is an optimum moment to review whatever you're studying -- at that moment right before you're likely to forget it," said Andrew Smith Lewis, founder and chairman of Cerego. "The problem is that calculating this moment for a vast stream of information is far beyond the capacity of the human brain. But it's not beyond the capacity of software. And now for the first time, we have not only the computing capacity to generate personalized learning schedules, but also a fertile venue for the creation and sharing of an infinite variety of learning content, the Web."

Combining cognitive science and neuroscience with the social nature of the web, iKnow! lets users remix the web for the purpose of learning. iKnow! measures memory strength and generates a personalized learning schedule optimized for each user.

"In order to improve how we encode and store new information in long-term memory, next-generation learning systems must reflect the fact that individuals have different rates and approaches to learning and retention," said Professor Jan Plass, director of the Consortium for Research & Evaluation of Advanced Technologies in Education at New York University. "Cerego has taken a unique and compelling approach with iKnow!, blending a system based on solid cognitive theory with social networking functionality that takes into account the socio-cultural aspects of learning in a community."

Unlike other social networks, where networking itself is the goal, the iKnow! platform is a collaborative network that will allow learners all over the globe to leverage and remix content produced by the community. As a demonstration of its social learning platform, iKnow! currently offers a comprehensive set of tools and content for English speakers to study Japanese, with support for other major language pairs to follow within the year.

"Cerego's iKnow! is innovative in the way it combines personalized learning applications and content creation tools in a collaborative, social environment," said DEMO Executive Producer Chris Shipley. "Unlike traditional learning approaches with a one-size-fits-all mentality, iKnow! is powered by an intelligent learning engine that adapts to the individual. It's exciting to see adaptive technology that has proved so revolutionary in spheres such as shopping and music recommendation, be applied to learning."

For the past ten months, iKnow! has been in beta inJapan, aimed exclusively at Japanese users studying English. There are currently 250,000 registered users inJapan, and during the month of August alone, these users spent over 12 million minutes in the applications mastering over 20 million items.

Users soon will be able to upload any kind of learning content into the system -- language and otherwise -- and Cerego will open its learning APIs to the developer community. This will let third-party developers take advantage of the system's memory management capabilities and build custom applications tailored to specific domains.

Cerego was selected to launch iKnow! at DEMOfall 08 (http://www.demo.com/) from among hundreds of companies. With a reputation for featuring game changing technology, DEMOfall is an invitation-only event that identifies innovative products and services likely to have a significant impact on the marketplace in the coming year. The conference is held inSan Diego, Calif. and runs from September 7-9.

About Cerego

Founded in 2000 and based inTokyo, Cerego (http://www.iknow.co.jp/) empowers people to learn faster, remember longer, and manage their memory for a lifetime. Cerego's iKnow! (http://www.iknow.co.jp/) intelligent social learning platform helps users efficiently encode, store, and retrieve knowledge. Powered by personalized, adaptive learning algorithms that accelerate knowledge acquisition, iKnow! is a new venue for users to create, share, and learn. For more information, visit http://www.iknow.co.jp.

Trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Cerego