What is h2g2?

h2g2 is an unconventional guide to life, the universe and everything, a project where entries are written by people from all over the world.

The Guide is written by visitors to the website - h2g2.com - and already it has thousands of entries on all sorts of subjects. It's a living, breathing guide that's constantly being updated and revised.

h2g2's inspiration came from Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Back in 1971, Douglas imagined a time when we'd have hand-held electronic devices that could access information about almost any place, object, time or event. This vision is now a reality.

Why is the site called h2g2?

'h2g2' is short for 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (two H's and two G's). We figured that 'h2g2' was considerably easier to type than 'hitchhikersguidetothegalaxy'. It also gives us something to explain every time someone asks.

Who's responsible for h2g2?

h2g2 is owned by Not Panicking Ltd. Although the h2g2 offices are based at the BBC in the UK, the website is international and has Researchers from all over the globe contributing to the Guide - at the last count we had Researchers from over 85 countries.

Is h2g2 anything to do with Douglas Adams?

Douglas founded h2g2, intending it to be the real-life Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The concept behind the original Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a hand-held guide to life in the Universe. The Internet brought Douglas closer to the vision he had back in the 1970s.

See what Douglas had to say about his vision for h2g2.

How can I give feedback, or ask questions about the site?

Next time you're near a computer, log onto the website - www.h2g2.com - and register. You can then leave a message for us at h2g2 Feedback. Alternatively, email us at [email protected] for our support team.

How much does it cost to use h2g2?

h2g2 does not charge for mobile content. Your operator charges will apply. Operators may charge for time spent browsing or amount of data downloaded. Consult your operator to find out their specific charges.

Last updated on 17th October 2011.