h2g2 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything.
BBC - h2g2 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

h2g2's inspiration comes from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the best-selling book by Douglas Adams (who was one of the original founders of the site). Back in 1971, Douglas lay drunk in a field in Innsbruck, Austria, thinking about the galaxy and how you might find your way around it. His solution, the 'Guide', was an ingenious device that offered advice about almost any place, object, entity or event you might care to name - all at the convenience of your fingertips. This vision is now approaching reality on the Internet in the form of h2g2.