We wind down another week and slowly – ever so slowly – the blizzard of last week begins to disappear, though the traffic effects linger on… and on… and on. And the blizzard didn't stop the government from doing nothing either.
Here is a little bit of what happened in our world though.
- Google Launches Google Buzz – Whatever you think about it, and I'm still not sure what I think about it, Google launched yet another new software feature this week, this one called Google Buzz. If you have a Gmail account, you can use it by installing it into your account and having it suddenly appear in the menu when you open up your Gmail, situated right under your Inbox. What the heck is it? There is a video on it, which I found pretty useless and is featured below for your edification. But Buzz is an attempt to integrate a bunch of social media you may already be using into one spot, which sounds handy. But I have found the navigation a bit confusing, and like Google Wave, I felt that Google is expecting me to feel my way around without a lot of support from them. But for now, two things of note. Google Buzz is emblematic of something I've talked about for a long time, which is that inevitably stand-alone tools we use each day are integrating into larger communications systems and that is a trend I think will continue. Secondly, Google Buzz also takes a huge step in my thinking to integrating out work lives with our private lives. That can be very tricky and may end run around some of those employers who seek to block employees out of social media. That is a wall that will inevitably come tumbling down for all companies that wish to remain relevant.
- Free Book on Use of YouTube for e-Patients – Speaking of social media, Kevin Kruse of Kru Research has published a free resource entitled "Using YouTube for e-Patient Communications – A Guide for Pharmaceutical Companies, Public Health Organizations and Other Health Professionals" – it is a how-to book and introduction to YouTube for beginners and includes useful case studies.
- WOMMA Lays Out Guidelines for Social Media Disclosures – Staying on a social media streak and on resources, the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) this week issued disclosure guidelines in the wake of the recent guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission on disclosure, testimonials and endorsements.
- CDC to Monitor for Reactions and Errors Associated with Blood Transfusions – I thought this noteworthy because I would have assumed that this had already been done for years. Like – "CDC to use Internet for Faster Communications" or "CDC to Monitor for Flu Outbreaks". In any case, if like me, you thought this already existed, SURPRISE! It does now though. The agency announced this week that it has launched the first national surveillance system to monitor adverse events associated with blood. Phew. Now I am wondering about tissue transplants. Anyone? In a related development, CDC and NHLBI also launched a surveillance program to determine the number of people suffering from inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell.
