Comments on: Forget Skynet! Computers Still Too Dumb to Spot Flu Outbreak

By: Geek Nation » Blog Archive » Forget Skynet! Computers Still Too Dumb to Spot Flu Outbreak

Mon, 11 May 2009 16:45:06 +0000

[...] View the entire post by clicking here [...]

By: markmindy

markmindy — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:26:27 +0000

I think it is unreliable to use Google to track the flu. Using spikes or numbers of searches to track flu assumes that people are using the internet search to query about the flu or send emails, etc. But computers and phone lines and cell towers are more common in urban areas, and among the affluent. Much of Mexico is a 3rd world country, and in the rural areas cell phones are common but not internet access, except through cyber cafes. The flaw in much of Google’s strategy is that every has web access; well, not everyone — most urban rich people, perhaps, but having lived in rural Mexico, that is not the case.

By: Swine Flu

Swine Flu — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:44:10 +0000

Great post! Check out my blog for the latest swine flu news Swine Flu News Swine Flu's last blog post..Romi Lassally: The Four Things Mothers are REALLY Thinking About the Swine Flu

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:39:19 +0000

@Jaan – don’t look at the Jan/Feb spike–that’s the winter flu season–see the small bump in April.

@InternetHowBlog – what we need is a computer to tell the human operator, “Dave, you should take a look at this data…”

By: InternetHowBlog

InternetHowBlog — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:21:32 +0000

Hi Andy. It is not because computers failed to predict, it is because as you mentioned, they usually find it easier to bring the pieces together after disaster strikes. This is mainly because, some people higher then you and me benefits from these situations, so they choose to ignore. I know it sounds sick, but that is the only way they can fill their pockets.

By: Jaan Kanellis

Jaan Kanellis — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:18:55 +0000

Not sure if that is correct. I bet the flu trend always goes up that time of the year. Coming into Winter people just tend to get more colds or feel like they have the flu. Jaan Kanellis's last blog post..Linkscape Data Update & SEO Hints From Rand