Five things worth sharing from the last week or so, brought to you by a different member of the Browser Media team every Friday.
This week’s My Five is by Ashleigh.
1. Could a supercomputer help beat Covid 19?
Medical science has now gone digital with the help of IBM’s Summit supercomputer which has the power of over one million top-end laptops. This computer has managed to do the research that a normal computer would take months to achieve in just a day or two.
The computer managed to analyse how 8,000 molecules interact with the virus and narrow them down to 77 for further analysis by researchers.
Let’s hope it discovers something that can stop this thing!
2. Should Google pause algorithm updates due to the virus?
Search Engine Roundtable conducted a poll of 1,100 SEOs and nearly 60% said they’d like Google to stop updating its algorithm during this torrid time.
However, despite the results of the poll many people have been very vocal about the fact that they do NOT believe this should be the case, as Google needs to stay vigilant in order to combat fake news around the outbreak:
Sorry Barry but WTF.
— Xavier Naudeau (@XavierNaudeau) March 16, 2020
As long as the internet is still up and running, I don't see why algorithm updates should stop.
If anything, Google needs to step things up to ensure the right information regarding the #coronavirus outbreak gets communicated.
— Itamar Blauer (@ItamarBlauer) March 16, 2020
Unlike many other industries, digital marketing specialists don't need a special office to perform well. In fact, other industries are dependent on us now. We should strive like we always do. This will only bring more business to us.
— Alex Stepman (@seosparta) March 16, 2020
3. AI to replace humans policing the web
The social media giants; Youtube, Facebook and Twitter are now relying on artificial intelligence to moderate web content as their employees have been sent home due to the virus.
This means that the platforms are trusting AI and automated tools to find unwanted content on their sites at a time when the web is rife with misinformation and misleading content.
Facebook said: “With fewer people available for human review we’ll continue to prioritise imminent harm and increase our reliance on proactive detections in other areas.”
Twitter said it would have to increase the use of automation but admits that “sometimes lack the context that our teams bring, and this may result in us making mistakes”.
YouTube said “As we do this, users and creators may see increased video removals, including some videos that may not violate policies. We won’t issue strikes on this content except in cases where we have high confidence that itís violative.”
Let’s hope people do not take advantage of this.
4. Ways to amuse yourself if you’re self-isolating
With a lot of people choosing to self-isolate across the world, many are coming up with weird and wacky ways to amuse themselves. Check out some of the “Quarantine Games” people have come up with:
https://twitter.com/mikewarburton/status/1239237744322379783
Sports cancellations and social distancing mean getting creative. ?
?: @atptour/@GsaLegrand pic.twitter.com/ZblPtDRjO9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 16, 2020
I’ve invented a game of “cat cricket”.
?My cat has to defend the box from my ping pong ball.
?If the ball hits the cardboard, that’s a point to me. ?????
?If she bats it away that’s a point to her. ?
First to ten wins. ??
Just look at that leg glance… ? #Caturday pic.twitter.com/FBAUGYbND2
— Chris Lee ???? (No longer active here) (@CMRLee) March 14, 2020
5. St Patrick’s Day pooches
St Patrick’s Day may have been a very different one for many this year but, as always, dogs can ease the pain and put a smile on our faces by dressing like leprechauns:
? St. Patrick’s dog 2020?
She’s taking the threat of leprechauns seriously, but not panicking.?#withyoutoday #StPatricksDay #chocolatelab pic.twitter.com/3X3LLMoBLi— Susie (@lowry_susie) March 17, 2020
St Patrick's Day is a bit of a letdown for many this year because pubs are closed and parades are cancelled. Apart from repping our dog agility club at the Sligo parade, I had made no plans and will spend the rest of the day writing, listening to music, watching TV and eating. pic.twitter.com/rGn5ZcfVPC
— Pamela Harju (@pamelaharju) March 17, 2020
Stay well everyone!