Google Tracks the Flu

Nov. 11 — Google has a new ”tool” called Google Flu Trends (www.google.org/flutrends).

By tracking the popularity of certain Google search queries, our engineers have discovered that we can accurately estimate the level of flu in each state, in near real time. Today Google.org launched a tool, Flu Trends, that makes this information accessible to all.

While traditional flu tracking systems take 1-2 weeks to collect and release data, Google search queries can be automatically counted immediately. During the last flu season, we shared our preliminary results with the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of the Influenza Division at CDC, and together we saw that our search-based flu estimates had a consistently strong correlation with real CDC flu data.

Flu affects millions, and kills hundreds of thousands every year. Early detection is critical to helping health officials respond more quickly and save lives. Flu Trends can help serve as an early-warning system for outbreaks of influenza.

Google Flu Trends is an effort put forth by Google’s philanthropic division, google.org. Google.org was announced by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 2004. Other projects being run by Google.org and their partners include:

• Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (RE<C): An R&D group with Google engineering seeking ways to generate electricity from renewable energy sources. It started by focusing on solar, wind, and geothermal systems. They also explore other potential breakthrough technologies.
• RechargeIT: A program to accelerate the adoption of plug-in electrical vehicles.
• Predict and Prevent: This initiative will use information and technology to empower communities to predict and prevent emerging threats before they become local, regional, or global crises. The initial focus is on emerging infectious diseases, climate change, and deforestation. On Nov. 4, 2008, they reported on a deadly arenavirus in South Africa which had been contracted by a safari booking agent, Cecelia van Deventer, in Zambia. Cecelia and three other people who had come in contact with her died within two weeks time. The disease is currently described as contained by several disease prevention organizations. Read more here.
• Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services: Google.org is working with public, private, and civil society partners initially to address education, health, and water and sanitation services in East Africa and India.
• Fuel the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Google.org is supporting the development of small and medium sized business enterprises in developing countries such as India and East Africa by focusing on lowering transaction costs, deepening capital markets to increase liquidity, and catalyzing capital for investment. While many large businesses have access to capital and loans, micro-loans have been hard to come by for smaller businesses. In countries such as the US, most jobs are provided by small business.

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Nacho Suarez: Illustrator, Speed Painter

There’s a computer illustrator called Nacho Suarez in Spain. He works with Adobe PhotoShop and a Wacom drawing tablet. In my daily blog travels I frequently come across blogs with links to his “video monitor captures” or “screencasts” on YouTube.  These are time lapse videos of him at work.  Well, you don’t see Nacho, but you do see a close up of his computer screen.

One of the more popular screencasts is his rendering of Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight blockbuster. I don’t know how much time it actually took him to draw this picture, but you can see it in 4 minutes and 44 seconds.

The final product:

You can see more of his videos online at YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/nsuarezdraws and you can check out his blog, in Spanish, at http://www.nachosuarez.blogspot.com/

Here are some of the tools Nacho uses to create his works:

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Star Trek, MacGuyver, 90210, Young and Restless on YouTube

CBS Networks has started adding past episodes from such popular TV series such as Star Trek (1966-1969), MacGuyver (1985-1992), Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000), and The Young and the Restless (1973 to present) on Google’s YouTube web site.

There are currently 5 episodes from each series, and 13 episodes for The Young and the Restless. The site is carrying the full length episodes with a 15 second ad before each epidoe, and another ad spot in the middle of the epsiode, and another at the end of each episode.

Google has been trying to patch things up with content owners (networks, etc) due to the constant unauthorized uploading of copyrighted material by fans to the YouTube site.  Many of the fan uploads were of poor picture and sound quality. The involvement of CBS should reduce unauthorized uploads of their content while providing superior sound and picture. It also creates a new revenue stream for the network and Google by selling ad space on re-runs of old episodes.

I’m wondering if any royalties will be paid to the actors on these programs. Certain airing agreements entitle actors to residual income from re-runs and syndicated programming after the series has ended production. The growth in online broadcasting has been a sticking point with the professional acting unions such as SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). (See the July 27, 2008 New York Times article “Board of Screen Actors Guild Backs Negotiators’ Internet Demands“).

New Features

The episode pages will differ from the standard YouTube pages, which usually feature a filmstrip icon and the ability to add tags or labels of your own to the video clips.

YouTube has also added a ”Theater View” option whcih presents an enlarged views of the video (and the ads) while hiding all other content on the page.

There is also a “lights out” mode, which will keeps the standard YouTube interface with a darker screen thereby putting more emphasis on the video.  It may also be useful for viewers who like to watch their videos in a darkened room.

Go the the CBS Playlists on YouTube to view the episodes.

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