Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu’s Spread

Google Uses Web Searches to Track Flu’s Spread: Turns out a lot of ailing Americans enter phrases like “flu symptoms” into Google and other search engines before they call their doctors. That simple act, multiplied across millions of keyboards in homes around the country, has given rise to a new early warning system for fast-spreading flu outbreaks, called Google Flu Trends.
The Smarter Planet tumblelog is an outgrowth of IBM’s strategic initiative to help a world of smart systems emerge.

 See this primer on Smarter Planet

More Read

The New Predictive Profession: Odd Yet Newly Legitimate [BOOK REVIEW]

The Success Factors of Effective Information Governance

The Technology behind Social Media Analytics – An interview with Greg Greenstreet, CTO, SVP Engineering of Collective Intellect

Next Gen Research Group on LinkedIn

The three legged stool – business, analytics, IT