I came across a podcast the other day that talked about how to use google searches for reasons other than just trying to find an article or web site or something. What some researchers have done is to follow through the number of searches over time using google on influenza … the flu!
What they found was that they could then use the search information to predict when an outbreak of flu might happen. What they also found was that the google search information was probably more immediate that the official or more formal flu data was. They found that the google data led the official data by around two weeks: critical if the flu we are talking about is Avian Flu or some other deadly strain.
What is happening? Well, the google searches came from the man in the street who had caught flu and needed some information; or from a parent or carer or even health worker who wanted to know what was happening in their area.
Either way, I think we are seeing here one way in which the social aspects of the internet can be a force for good and for change.
There is a pdf file for you to download here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nature07634.pdf. You can currently find the details of this research at the home page of www.google.org too.
DW
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