Scientists use Net game to forecast epidemics

[Swede]

An Internet game akin to "Where's Waldo?" for tracing the movement of dollar bills has helped scientists develop a statistical model for predicting the spread of an epidemic in this country.

Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self Organization have used the Web game "Where's George?," which monitors the geographic circulation of dollar bills by their serial numbers, to forecast how a virus would spread from human to human.

http://news.com.com/Scientists+use+Net+game+to+forecast+epidemics/2100-11395_3-6031234.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. i've seen those bills a bunch

that's actually a pretty smart idea! :bounce:

[Ptah]

2. That's fascinating.

I've entered maybe ten bills over 3 of 4 years.

I had not imagined how tracking these bills could be a source of scientific data.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[mainegreen]

3. Entered some bills a year or two ago.

Totally forgot about them until I saw you post. Logged back in to see how far they had gone. Furthest distance of any of the bills I entered: 52 miles.

I guess we're pretty insular up here! :)