Comments on: Britannica Responds to Nature Study About Wikipedia’s Inaccuracies (.pdf) http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jkbaumga/2006/03/22/britannica-responds-to-nature-study-about-wikipedias-inaccuracies-p/ World AIDS Day Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:55:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dan http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jkbaumga/2006/03/22/britannica-responds-to-nature-study-about-wikipedias-inaccuracies-p/#comment-4845 Dan Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:38:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jkbaumga/2006/03/22/britannica-responds-to-nature-study-#comment-4845 The comparisons between Encyclopaedia Britannica and Wikipedia are very interesting. Encyclopaedia Britannica never thought that an open source product like Wikipedia would seriously challenge the credibility of its brand. They were wrong and Encyclopaedia Britannica's staff seriously misread the global market. They are now very concerned about the widespread use of a free Wikipedia vs their paid subscription model. Industry analysis shows that the accuracy of both encyclopedic databases is similar. It is interesting that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is developing a new search engine. It is the combination of a) improved search engines and b) the success of Wikipedia that has put financial pressure on Encyclopedia Britannica over recent years. Many institutions and individuals are questioning the need to pay to subscribe to Encyclopaedia Britannica when the content is free on the internet. Google even has free direct links to Encyclopaedia Britannica's main database !! The comparisons between Encyclopaedia Britannica and Wikipedia are very interesting.

Encyclopaedia Britannica never thought that an open source product like Wikipedia would seriously challenge the credibility of its brand. They were wrong and Encyclopaedia Britannica’s staff seriously misread the global market. They are now very concerned about the widespread use of a free Wikipedia vs their paid subscription model. Industry analysis shows that the accuracy of both encyclopedic databases is similar.

It is interesting that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is developing a new search engine. It is the combination of a) improved search engines and b) the success of Wikipedia that has put financial pressure on Encyclopedia Britannica over recent years. Many institutions and individuals are questioning the need to pay to subscribe to Encyclopaedia Britannica when the content is free on the internet. Google even has free direct links to Encyclopaedia Britannica’s main database !!

]]> By: James Day http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jkbaumga/2006/03/22/britannica-responds-to-nature-study-about-wikipedias-inaccuracies-p/#comment-462 James Day Sun, 26 Mar 2006 13:17:26 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jkbaumga/2006/03/22/britannica-responds-to-nature-study-#comment-462 <a></a> Article: Thyroid [“thyroid gland”] Reviewer comment: It does not mention the importance of iodine intake. Britannica response: Iodine uptake is indeed discussed. I wonder if telling people that it's important to consume iodine might differ somewhat from a discussion of iodine uptake from food? The Britannica response seems to completely miss the point here.

Article: Thyroid [“thyroid gland”]
Reviewer comment: It does not mention the importance of iodine intake.
Britannica response: Iodine uptake is indeed discussed.

I wonder if telling people that it’s important to consume iodine might differ somewhat from a discussion of iodine uptake from food? The Britannica response seems to completely miss the point here.

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