Flu Trends

It is suggested that Google’s product called Google Flu Trends can spot an emerging influenza epidemic a couple weeks sooner than they had using traditional methods.  It was determined that many people do internet searches prior to visiting a doctor.  Tracking those searches is one way to spot rates of flu outbreaks.

 

http://www.technologyreview.com/web/21669/?a=f

 

http://www.google.org/flutrends/

End of Theory

Wired published an article in June of 2008 titled, The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete.  One point made by the writer, Chris Anderson, is that the saturation of data out there has diminished the need and relevance of scientific method.  The precedent of a small population developing a hypothesis no longer carries the weight it once did.   The notion of correlation had been negated and viewed as merely coincidence, but has now gained new significance.  Instead Anderson observes, “With enough data, the numbers speak for themselves.”  

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/16-07/pb_theory

Data vs. Metadata

This article describes the difference between the two.  The article also describes tagging as user-defined metadata and how the author is not only classifier of the work produced.  As observed in the article, ”The real power of tagging though lies in its social nature.”

http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~comp1900/Lectures/comp1900_wk_5_data_metadata_notes.pdf

Ben Fry

Ben Fry has done some interesting studies pertaining to visualizing data sets.  Much of his research is focused on genetics. Other explorations are mapping exercises looking at data like web use.   

http://benfry.com/projects/

Christine Marriott