I have a B.S. in Information Technology, not a M.D. Therefore, should I (or anyone else in that matter) self-diagnose ourselves using information we find online from sites like WebMD or the Mayo Clinic ?

We’ve all done it- googled a symptom to see if it fits the list for a sinus infection or strep throat… but how will access to medical information change the way we view disease?

Microsoft researchers published the results of a study of health-related Web searches on popular search engines as well as a survey of the company’s employees.

The study suggests that self-diagnosis by search engine frequently leads Web searchers to conclude the worst about what ails them.

The researchers said they had not intended their work to send the message that people should ignore symptoms. But their examination of search records indicated that researching particular symptoms often led quickly to anxiousness.

They found that roughly 2 percent of all Web queries were health-related, and about 250,000 users, or about a quarter of the sample, engaged in a least one medical search during the study.

About a third of the subjects “escalated” their follow-up searches to explore serious illnesses, the researchers said.

Read the published results from microsoft here.

Let’s leave the diagnosis to the experts, ahem, technology experts?

I live down the street from Usher.

Funny thing is, I’m not lying. But every time I drive past his house, I wonder, how much is that house worth? It’s beautiful!

I’ve found the answer in Zillow, a site that displays home pricing information over an interactive map (think

google maps). Since what you paid for your home is public information, this site makes it really easy to check real estate values as well as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and overall square footage of a home.

If you’re in the market for a foreclosure, the site also allows you to filter by foreclosures as well as homes that are up for sale.

The site describes the “big idea” as:

When the Zillow.com real estate service launched on Feb. 8, 2006, we tackled the first question most home buyers, sellers, and the curious ask: “How much is this home really worth?” Zillow calculates a Zestimate^® home valuation as a starting point for anyone to see — for free — for most homes in the U.S. So, using the Zestimate as the foundation, we built a Web page for each home and then filled it with data and maps and layered it with publicly available information such as comparables and tax information. We were breaking new ground — to package all of this information in one place for everyone to see, for free.

It’s something that you wouldn’t believe it unless you watched first-hand.

We all take pictures in hopes of capturing a memory or a feeling of a certain place… but what if these pictures could be transformed into something better, something that is truly representational.

No surprise here, Microsoft Labs truly brought research from the University of Washington to life with Photosynth.

Microsoft desribes it in this way… “What if your photo collection was an entry point into the world, like a wormhole that you could jump through and explore?”

Sounds like something straight out of a Philip Pullman novel. His Dark Materials style. Still pretty cool.

Whenever I see an article on blogging, I usually think one of two things:

1. [sigh] another article on the benefits of blogging?

2. [maybe it's the 'glass is half full' side of me] maybe I can learn something to apply to techyness.

This article from the New York Times titled, “Blogging’s a Low-Cost, High Return Marketing Tool” is kindof a mix of both, but leaning towards the second choice. I picked up a few cute bits of information, such as:

• Legal bloggers call themselves “blawgers”
• Denali Flavors, an ice cream company based out of my neighboring state ofMichigan, uses blogs to promote Moose Tracks (my favorite ice cream)
• Some companies donate all funds received for advertising to charity (i love this)
• Consultants+blogs=love
• The extreme number of books on blogging available on amazon.com (9,744 Results)
• Strategy is key

Although a few quotes were edited out because it came from someone who writes for the D.O. (oops)… I’m hoping that students will get something out of this article.

Check out the Article

As the fall semester ends, Syracuse University seniors are weighing possible post-graduation plans. Options are endless – anything from full-time employment, graduate school or even a year off.

Since time isn’t so open-ended, some knowledge in networking typically goes a long way. Debi Walker, assistant director at Center for Career Services, stresses the importance of taking advantage of the tech-savvy resources SU has to offer.

Walker explained new developments to Orangelink, SU’s online recruiting software, including switching to a new vendor and a partnership with CareerBuilder.com and how it will be easier for students to use this online tool.

If they don’t use additional resources, students “might be missing out on something really great,” she said.

“Networking is the still the best way to find employment opportunities,” said Tim Kalucki, Information Technology and Services vice president. The firm specializes in consulting and direct staffing with offices throughout the Midwest. He warns students that they need to differentiate themselves in today’s job market.

“If you’re not competitive and out there, you will get passed over,” he said. “It may not be your dream job, but look for a well-respected company. (Recent graduates) need experience and prove that they know how to work in a professional environment.”

Another way to network online is through blogs, which can provide a new perspective to job hunters. Blogs connect to one another by linking to thoughts of other bloggers, instantly creating a knowledge network accessible no matter where the user is located.

The business networking site LinkedIn can be used for online networking by anyone, and joining is free. The site is made up of more than 16 million people representing 150 industries. The Web site boasts that “more people have joined LinkedIn than live in Sweden.”

But it’s no Facebook. The New York Times’ blog Bits quoted LinkedIn Chief Executive Dan Nye explaining that the site is a “productivity tool to make professional people more effective,” unlike other sites, where “there is a lot of noise and interference.”

To find a blog that fits a specific topic, check out Technorati, a search engine devoted to blogs and social media. According to Technorati, which searches a database of more than 112.8 million blogs, there are 175,000 new blogs created every day.

Or, if generating your own content is more your style, create your own blog by signing up for free with Blogger, WordPress or Blogster, among others.

Kalucki, who works closely with college students and professionals to find life after graduation, stresses the need to publish one’s resume in cyberspace.”Put your resume out in as many areas as possible because you don’t know how it’s going to get picked up,” he said.

His company and many other third party recruiters utilize software that scans the Internet for key words.”Since on-campus exposure is limited, get your resume out there – on your home page, Monster.com and Craig’s list,” he said. “You want as many people to see it as possible.”

“Employers say that a lack of research is why students don’t get selected or interviewed,” Walker said. “You need to be prepared before talking to employers or you are cutting yourself short. The technology is there. You can even (research) at 3 a.m.”

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com

We all remember the line from wedding crashers, “You know how they say we only use 10% of our brains? I think we only use 10% of our hearts.”

Well I was sitting in class today, and somehow this concept came to mind- mainly it was during a presentation given by a representative from Harris Interactive and also due to watching the girl sitting close to me in class work on her computer (I’m often easily distracted).

I’ve come to realize, mainly through observation, that although a great number of people today use computers and technology, that the overall knowledge tends to peak at a certain point. I’m not sure if it has to do with a general disinterest in computers/technology, a lack of knowledge on the subject, or a type of “fear” that just keeps people away from learning about it.

On campus I have been working as an undergraduate research associate on the Syracuse Information Systems Evaluation (SISE) projects- one project that I have assisted with is the IT Workforce project, where we explore perceptions of IT and IT-related careers in society. One interesting topic was the Geek vs. Nerd stereotype research- the quotes from the surveys were hilarious. However, not all of the research had a humorous edge- one research angle came from discussing how IT professionals are regarded in the US vs. other countries- we found that in India, IT professionals are regarded almost as highly as doctors and lawyers. A strong differentiation from the United States, where IT professionals are frequently stereotyped as being antisocial and working in an otherwise undesired field. Although these are two distinctly separate countries (and cultures), I believe that it proves that the US needs to change perceptions on technical related professions.

I disagree. Not only are graduates from the iSchool at Syracuse University the highest paid graduates of the University, but more importantly, we have the chance to make a strong impact in a society that runs in an online environment.

So, let’s try to use more of our brains, hearts… and our computers

Check out my blog at: http://techyness.com