A Brighton philosopher turned web designer has put two of the world's biggest reference works on the internet.

The mammoth projects are nearly completed and Adrian Driscoll will launch the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Online and the New Grove Dictionary of Music Online in the next three months.

The ten and 29-volume works will be rivalled in size only by the online Encyclopaedia Brittania when they hit the net.

Readers across the world will have access to the books but the companies behind them will charge libraries for access.

Mr Driscoll said their publication could spell the end of the paper encyclopaedia.

"There may never be another major reference work printed.

"When the Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy was published, the paper had to be ordered two years in advance and eight container lorries took it from Switzerland to England."

He has carried out his heavyweight web work alongside business partner Richard Padley with their company Semantico.

Mr Driscoll began his career preparing a thesis on the late 19th Century philosopher Charles Saunders Pierce before turning to publishing and new media.

www.semantico.com
www.grovemusic.com
www.rep.routledge.com