But the potential of this new medium has, thus far, been offset by an emphasis on Web sites designed first and foremost as IPOs. Gutenberg invented the printing press for the mass transcription of quality literary and religious works that had been accessible to only a privileged few. As a physician, professor, and editor, I'm naturally interested in the Web's role in physician education. I doubt universities and colleges will do this. Although they have the content experts, they don't have the technical and business savvy.
Publishers alone lack the content expertise.
The last limitation may be the hardest. The tremendous opportunity to make money has influenced even prestigious people, organizations, and journals to produce something far less than what they could in their rush to get on the frenzied bandwagon. We have a means to increase learning, but we are at risk of its getting a bad name before the real quality appears. I believe that in the long run, usefulness, appropriate packaging of information, and quality of content will win out. MD will help you navigate the burgeoning field of medical informatics.