Ron Schenone

Got The Flu? Google Wants To Know

Posted by on Nov 14, 2008 | 12 Comments

Google has opened a site called Google Flu Trends and the purpose of the site is to track those who search for flu symptoms on the Internet. Once the data is collected, Google will post the results as to which states in the U.S. are being hit the hardest. Google also states that:

We have found a close relationship between how many people search for flu-related topics and how many people actually have flu symptoms. Of course, not every person who searches for “flu” is actually sick, but a pattern emerges when all the flu-related search queries from each state and region are added together. We compared our query counts with data from a surveillance system managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and found that some search queries tend to be popular exactly when flu season is happening. By counting how often we see these search queries, we can estimate how much flu is circulating in various regions of the United States.

Makes sense. Hopefully we can track how bad the flu is hitting where we live and hopefully stay away from large crowds, if that is possible. The people who always got me were the ones who came to work with the flu and infected their fellow workers. I am glad I no longer have to go into a closed environment with those who are infectious. :-)

Comments welcome.

Source

  • Wesley D. Brown

    Excellent Idea, and there are more like it on the Google.org site. This was proposed to others in the Health industry several years ago. Some sort of borrowed on the idea and recieve millions to study the idea, while Google actually did something. There are “enahncements” in several medical areas that this approach could also have a positive affect on. There also is additional information that allows a “rather” total knowledge picture also possible. I have initated a “how to” plan to Google.Org, it is based on research, and real life experience. Lets hope someone within Google will at least call to talk about it, it does get a bit complicated. The overview is not public, but non-public information exchanges are welcome.

    Flu & Colds to the nth degree
    Heart Attacks and Dental relationships
    Delayed Stress

    Are examples, and methods and solutions do exist.

  • leftystrat

    Am I the only one who gets agitated by the word `track’ ?

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks for the comments.

    ‘track’…………… It makes me feel important! LOL

  • http://twitter.com/OmniDragon OmniDragon

    What kind of HP printer do you have, Ron?

  • http://about.me/sandmaxprime Lionel Faleiro

    I have been using Refilled /OEM Cartridges for quite some months and I am satisfied with the results. OEM & Refilled cartridges are a big craze in India.

    My advice to anyone who is wanting to use OEM or Refilled cartridges, make sure the company you are purchasing them from is a reputable one. It would also make sense if you can see that they give you a sort of warranty on the cartridge (Like a Month) and also investigate what that company would do if their cartridges end up spoiling your printer. Would they repair your printer for you?

  • http://twitter.com/RandomRav Rav Jagdev

    I have a couple of printers including a Canon Pixmania ip4000, the OEM catridges that came with the printer have been refilled many times over the past 2 years with no problems at all!

  • David Baron

    Yup. However, beware of refills with lower end HPs and similar printers. IF the cartridge is simply a jar containing inks, refill is just fine. But if the print head/mechanism is included in the cartridge, best always using a new one whether OEM or substitute.

  • Michael Poppers

    I have had both good and bad experiences with non-OEM cartridges in the past. Which companies do y’all vouch for as reliable? Thanks.

  • Denis Paley

    I’ve have been refilling my ink cartridges for about a decade on various types of printers and never had a problem. I refill the same cartridge no more than three time and then I replace the old cartridge with a new OEM replacement cartridge and continue on that way. Printer manufacturers just rip you off with the cost of the brand name ink cartridges.

  • Anonymous

    Non OEM cartridge can give some problem to printer. It can not give printing quality as a OEM cartridge. Non OEM cartridge makes printer life small. So if you have try to save money on cartridge then you will lost more money in printer repairing cost.

  • James Rushton

    Kontera? There’s a ‘u’ missing. I hate those damn things that pop up when your mouse passes over them. They are a GIGANTIC pita!
    On a lighter note, hi Chris! Love your work.

    • http://chris.pirillo.com/ Chris Pirillo

      Thanks? :)