Robert Newcombe wrote:
> My first reaction on reading the original request for an explanation
> of the FTSE was, fancy asking Allstat something so trivial/wellknown!
> On reflection, firstly, we shouldn't take for granted that an acronym
> familiar to virtually all adults in the UK will be similarly well-
> known in other countries.
and Mike Procter wrote:
> > My first reaction was not to give you the answer but to
> tell you how to
> > find out (as in give a man a fish ...). But I tried
> putting FTSE into
> > Google and never got an expansion of the acronym.
My first reactions were both of these.
My second reaction was to point out that -- in response to Mike's point -- a
Google search on "FTSE" brings up the FTSE firm's homepage
(http://www.ftse.com), from which it is one step to an explanation of their
origins (http://www.ftse.com/about_ftse/About_FTSE.jsp)
BUT this assumes either (i) that one has a browser which supports the pop-up
menus used (and a computer that will run the browser), or (ii) that the FTSE
site will detect less-highly-specified browsers and supply alternative pages
to suit.
Which prompts me to add, to Robert's point that:
> We, the statistical profession ... should ... strive to make our
communications less dependent on others having all
> the prior knowledge that we have.
"and less dependent on high-level or esoteric technology to access it"/
Julian Wells
School of Management
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
United Kingdom
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+44 (1908) 654658
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