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The New York Times published two articles on technology that I thought were really interesting.  The first was on using google search to track the flu and the second was on how webcams and skype have transformed the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren.  

The Google Foundation works on figuring out innovative ways to use technology to solve real world problems.  They ran a pilot project where they tracked google searches for flu symptoms and then compared the results with data for the Centers for Disease Control.  The results were startling.  

They’re working on ways to scale this up and work to use it for early warning system for pandemics or bioterrorism.  Really interseting stuff.  To read the whole article click here.

The other article on Skype and webcams was interesting if only because it mirrors our experiences exactly.  Our kids have become so accustomed to skype and communicating by webcam and it has really been interesting to watch.  Maggie knows the Skype ring and runs over to the computer when she hears it.  Jacob and my mom one time played imaginary baseball by video chat.  He wanted to play so I told my mom to throw the ball and she threw it and he pretended to hit it without even thinking.  Erika and her mom used to have breakfast together by Skype and chat while they went about their morning routine.  Amazing.  For more stories of grandparent/grandchild tea parties click on the story here.