Google Helps in Tracking the Spread of Flu
According to a recent story by The New York Times, Google is using it’s web search trends to track the spread of Flu in United States. Common symptoms of the flu are sore throat, head ache, cough and fever and according to Googlers people under such circumstances are more likely to search for information on sore throat, cough drops and flu medicine.
- Source: nytimes.com
Google has spent about an year to dig into it’s database to analyse search trends over flu and have come up with a way of tracking spread of flu 10-14 days faster than the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Following the research Google has launched Flu Trends to help people in United States to know about the break out of Flu in their state. Now this is what I consider a perfect example of Technology for Society. Such innovative ideas could help in surveillance and warning for so many other diseases and epidemics.
Just imagine that we could subscribe to health alerts from Google – the world will be such a safe place. The health alerts would also mean a new revenue stream for Google where it could provide a perfect platform for Pharmacies and may be doctors to advertise.
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