[Taxacom] Google Trends

[Bob Mesibov]

This Google tool, apparently still in development, gives some curious
results. Look at the patterns for 'insects'

http://www.google.com/trends?q=insects&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

'entomology'

http://www.google.com/trends?q=entomology&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

and 'coleoptera'

http://www.google.com/trends?q=coleoptera&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Many biodiversity-related search terms (including 'biodiversity') show a
downward trend over the past few years. To show that Trends can also
show a steadily rising trend, enter 'Ubuntu' (a Linux version) and click
on Search Trends. To see a flash in the pan, try 'tsunami'.

And see

http://www.google.com/intl/en/trends/about.html

for Google's explanation of Trends.

Thanks to TAXACOMer Jim Croft for pointing me to Trends!
-- 
Dr Robert Mesibov
Honorary Research Associate
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania
Home contact: PO Box 101, Penguin, Tasmania, Australia 7316
(03) 64371195; 61 3 64371195
http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/mesibov.html