Interesting that Wolfram would say that WA has 90% of reference library enquiries covered...
In one interview Wolfram appears to cede the reference librarian function to Google:
"Just as running Google is like having a reference librarian to help you, running Wolfram|Alpha will be like having a house scientist to consult for you."
See:
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/ai/wolframalpha-searching-truth
Bernie Sloan
Sora Associates
Bloomington, IN
--- On Mon, 5/4/09, Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen_at_GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: Alexander Johannesen <alexander.johannesen_at_GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [NGC4LIB] Another nail in the coffin
To: NGC4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Date: Monday, May 4, 2009, 3:56 AM
On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 17:45, Weinheimer Jim <j.weinheimer_at_aur.edu> wrote:
> While I can't class myself as a naysayer, I do see that this project
does not really overlap with librarianship (or it doesn't have to, anyway).
From what I see of Wolfram Alpha, it is designed to be a giant "answer
machine" which will respond to natural language questions to provide
someone an answer.
About half-way through in the Q&A there's a question about its role
with libraries, and Wolfram answers that they've got about 90% of all
reference library enquiries covered. The only thing they don't really
do (and don't want to do) is details about people.
Alex
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Received on Mon May 04 2009 - 11:35:31 EDT