Google correctly diagnosed 58% of the cases having difficult medical symptons, according to a study conducted by Australian doctors, reports Guardian Unlimited.
The doctors concluded that: “In difficult diagnostic cases, it is often useful. Web-based search engines such as Google are becoming the latest tools in clinical medicine, and doctors in training need to become proficient in their use.” (emphasis added)
A similar study by British Medical Journal found similar results for medical cases with unique symptoms. Some physician and patient groups advised caution. Googlists dismissed them as “ninnies afraid of technology” (we made up that quote for dramatic effect).
This shows Z is on to something afterall. Consumers should be satisfied with tools that yield accurate results 50% of the time. After all 50% (median) of guestimates are only off by 7.5% or less (on a $2 million home that’s only $150K, a mere bag of shells). The fact that the other 50% may be off by 100%, 200%, 10,000% or more (does anyone know the average error rate in this other half?) should be of little consequence to users. Who cares.
Heck, if 50% is good enough for doctors, when life and death are at stake, damn, it oughta be good enough for home buyers & sellers with only money at stake. Boy, did we ever underestimate consumer expectations. Zillow is relevant afterall. Mea culpa, Dr. Z. Now if only someone could tell me in which 50% my home value or diagnosis is going to fall into before I take that pill. I feel a headache coming on— or is it a brain tumor?
hmmm, that could save us some big bucks, maybe the interent will put doctors out of business.
Right. Google doesn’t have a co-pay and we can order the medicine online from overseas and save some bucks there too. I guess maybe if you make things easy enough, anyone can be replaced.
I can see it now…the next time I go see my doctor and they have me fill out the paper work describing all my past ills, maladies, and injuries, there will be a new line item on that form that asks us something like:
“Prior to setting up this appointment and wasting our time with your insignificant, insurance-rate raising, excuse of a reason to see one of our doctors, did you first Google it?”
Ha that is the future, no doubt. Maybe a new site–Doctor Google.