Google has added health and medical information to its search results this week, a new way to quickly sift the wheat from the chaff in the barrage of the poorly-filtered domain that is internet search.
According to the company, one in 20 searches are for health-related matters, and with the rise of measles and other infectious diseases in North America, people need to know that the information they’re searching for is reliable.
The addition of new health information, which will roll out in the coming days, is part of Google’s attempt to shore up its Knowledge Graph, a product that began more than two years ago as a way to better synthesize and display the things people search for. The information is presented with photos, graphs and illustrations, as well as easy-to-read charts, for basis health terms. Google reportedly worked with medical doctors to ensure the information is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
While Google doesn’t recommend using the information in lieu of seeing a doctor, this info can be used to determine whether a symptom is in line with one’s often poorly-informed self-diagnosis.
The information is rolling out to U.S. users this week, with expansion to come soon.
[source]Google[/source]
