Ask.com turns drawing on maps into a local search tool.

Ask.com’s local search tool, Ask City, has included drawing tools for some time now.

The idea has been to give you the chance to mark maps with text, X’s and text before sending a copy to your friends — you know, “the party is here” kind of thing.

Someone at Ask has gotten the good idea of using the drawing tools for something more: search.

Here’s how it goes:

Search for a particular city. Then use one of the drawing tools — lines, circles, polygons, etc — to define an area of that city. Now click on the magnifying glass to open a search window. Any search you do now will be limited to the area you have defined.

Neat!

See also The New Shape of Local Search (Ask Official Blog)