Brilliant use of search data

[msmemory_archive]

NY Times reports that Google is now charting the spread of the flu using aggregated search data superimposed on zip/state data. If there's a spike in searches on "flu symptoms" for example, in New England, then the hypothesis is that there is an uptick in the incidence of flu. The data are supporting the notion, too. That is SO COOL.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/technology/internet/12flu.html

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

And yet not.

It is slightly invasive of privacy.

And since people are now aware of it, it can be spoofed.

[baronessmartha.livejournal.com]

the cdc has a weekly histogram you can cross reference with that.

wow. group of geeks are we? YAY GEEKS!

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's amazingly cool.

Even to the incidental detail that the head of Google.org is named "Dr. Brilliant" :-)