Presentation given by Jeff Goodhue and Dave Wakeman at Watson DevCon 2016. Can cognitive technology really detect and track outbreaks using social media and save lives? Absolutely! The technology of Watson APIs, the Bluemix platform and IBM Operational Decision Manager can be combined into a powerful solution that uses Twitter data, natural language processing and situational awareness to detect patterns in social media to track disease and health outbreaks as they spread. The real-time situation detection capabilities of the “Flu Fighters” solution can provide advanced warning to doctors, hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical providers and others so that preventative measures can be taken to protect at-risk patients before the outbreak reaches their area. In this session you will learn how a prototype of such solution was developed using IBM Watson Services and IBM Bluemix.

1. The Flu Fighters
Jeff Goodhue @jeffgoodhue
Dave Wakeman @dwakeman
Using IBM Cognitive Computing
to fight epidemics like a rock star!

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Information regarding potential future products is intended to outline our general productdirection and it should
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The information mentionedregarding potential future products is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to
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The development, release, and timing of any future features or functionality described for our products remains at
our sole discretion.
Performance is based on measurements and projections using standard IBM benchmarks in a controlled
environment. The actual throughput or performance that any user will experience will vary depending upon many
factors, including considerations such as the amount of multiprogramming in the user’s job stream, the I/O
configuration, the storage configuration, and theworkload processed. Therefore, no assurance can be given that
an individual user will achieve results similar to those stated here.
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Detecting flu (epidemic)
outbreaks using social media
such as Twitter is now almost a
common practice
Challenges
• State-­level segmentation
• Weekly time horizon
• Manual/Minimal signal to noise
filters
• Epidemic evolution and
movement
• Response Management
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Prototype Cloud Solution Architecture
ODM
Advanced
IBM Bluemix
Weather
Company
Data
Insights for
Twitter
SDK for
Node.js
Natural
Language
Classifier
Tone
Analyzer
API
Connect
EPA Air
Quality
Data
Electronic
Health
Records
Future Prototype

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The Flu via Twitter
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/flu-­life-­cycle-­cold-­influenza-­virus_n_4228670.html
I’m pretty sure I’m getting the flu :(
9 days in bed with flu!
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Creating and Training a Flu Tweet Natural Language Classifier
RELEVANT
I feel dizzy
What a terrible headache
I am sick, maybe flu
the entire family is feeling flu symptoms
I hate these flu stomach aches I have. Probably flu
Doctor told me I have a flu. Not going to school
here i am suffering flu and sore throat
I'm pretty sure I'm getting the flu
Flu and fever in the house
Flu got me like i can't even breath
Sorry, I'm just getting over the flu
Wife has viral flu, son ear infection, daughter a cold.
Joy!
I have the flu
I really have the flu again
I am dying with this flu
Fever is getting better. Now got a flu.
Stomach flu or food poisoning? Either way, it's awful
9 days in bed with flu
seriously i have not felt this horrible flu before
I missed a week of school because of that flu
NOT RELEVANT
CDC Says the Flu Shot is Less Effective
Doc said ER waiting room is most likely
place to catch a cold
We've made changes to our visitor policies
to protect our patients & staff from the #flu
Erie County may have a mild or late flu
season
The flu vaccine takes up to 14 days to start
working
dogs can get the flu just like people
Flu season starting
In California flu seems big
Get Ready For Flu Season
Increase in flu cases this month in the Bay
Area
Latest flu vaccination uptake figures
released
Utah: Tens of flu cases
Include:
• Flu, fever
• Medicines
• Correct parts of
speech
Exclude:
• URLs (more
likely articles
than sickness)
• “Bieber” +
“fever”
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Takeaway
Cognitive
1. Insights for Twitter
2. Watson Tone and NLC
• Filter signal from noise
3. Future extensions to Weather,
Air Quality and Medical Records
Business Operations
1. Timely, geographic alerts
2. Geo-­propagation prediction
3. Business rule language
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8. Page 8
DEMO – Node-­RED Cognitive Preprocessing of Tweets
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DEMO – Cloudant Dashboard

10. Presentation Title
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DEMO – Classifier Creation

11. Presentation Title
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DEMO – Execute Classifier

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DEMO – Node.js App that invokes BM Services

13. Page 13
DEMO – Insight Map Viewer
Admissions – Late
Tweets – Earlier
Approaching Tweets -­ BEST
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14. Page 14
DEMO – Insight Inspector
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15. Page 15
DEMO – Insight Designer
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SOURCES:
1. Source goes here.
2. Source goes here.
3. Source goes here.
4. Source goes here.
Thank You
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