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Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

reuters.com

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Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#51

Post by dmix »

vikinghckr wrote: post #45
elliekelly wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The President said it would be up on Sunday.

Here's the transcript from the press conference: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/CmrNxLAP9wohLWA... I searched for "Sunday" there, and they only mention they'll be able to provide details of when the testing website will be available by Sunday evening. They didn't say the website will go live Sunday.

I could see how someone could get the impression he said it was coming Sunday evening but watching the interview from start to finish it's clear that wasn't a direct response to the question like some people thought it was. Edit: Re-reading the transcript it looks like they only announced the announcement of plans for Sunday?

>> Mike Pence: For Americans looking on, by this Sunday evening, we'll be able to give specific guidance on when the website will be available

If anything it was the FDA approval of Roche's automated testing ability that was going to happen by Sunday, which was announced today (Saturday) with a 24 hour window [1], and is only one piece of the puzzle. We don't even have a brand name or domain for the "Google site" yet. The only domain he mentioned http://coronavirus.gov directs to a CDC content site, so it will probably just be via Verily, which only announced a limited SF roll-out so far.

The closest thing he gave to a direct response to the website question was a paper was being released after the press conference which outlines their plans. Not sure on the status of that. The Reuters article was last updated 17hrs ago yesterday so it might just be highlighting the press interview, not the paper.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22575661

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#52

Post by mandelbrotwurst »

vikinghckr wrote: post #21
anoncareer0212 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because what was said in the press conference is very, very, very, very, very, different from whats going on inside Google and Verily. Think: someone had an idea for a much, much, more limited in scope project for a very small area _that morning_. Not a nationwide exposure detector somehow built by 1700 engineers to be launched in the next week.

I don't think the President ever mentioned it being next week. Also, see this from Google communication: https://twitter.com/Google_Comms/status/1238989460127338497 This effort for a nationwide testing website is different from and in addition to what Verily was already doing at a smaller scale in Bay Area (although I imagine there will be lots of overlap and shared code etc.)

What about the 1700 engineers bit?

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#53

Post by mandelbrotwurst »

tootie wrote: post #43
vikinghckr wrote: post #3

Found it strange that some parts of media decided to focus on the semantics of Google and Verily being different subsidiaries of Alphabet. This is an almost meaningless detail.

Because it's yet another detail that he's gotten wrong and shows that he's not paying attention. He made several incorrect statements about who is building the site, how many people are working on it, when it will be ready and who the target audience is. It's been a valve of mistakes this week that just show he isn't treating this seriously.

...or that he's incompetent to the point of not being able to receive, process and relay information with any degree of reliability. Pick your poison I guess.

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#54

Post by [deleted] »

mandelbrotwurst wrote: post #52
vikinghckr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the President ever mentioned it being next week. Also, see this from Google communication: https://twitter.com/Google_Comms/status/1238989460127338497 This effort for a nationwide testing website is different from and in addition to what Verily was already doing at a smaller scale in Bay Area (although I imagine there will be lots of overlap and shared code etc.)

What about the 1700 engineers bit?

[deleted]

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#56

Post by newtoday »

So, I'm gonna have to go to Walmart to get tested? Wtf? I should be able to go to my local hospital right now, but there's no tests, and no one will be wearing PPE when I walk in there.

Fuck this website. Exactly where, in each US state does one go for testing, right now? Any sources on this?

Edit: I may sound rash, but what I read is Google: it's only in SF Bay, Trump: there will be a website, and drive through testing, which sounds like in Walmart parking lots or something. Yes, I'm freaking out.

Can anyone out there answer my question above? Cause the local govt or healthcare facilities are unable to. Nor Trump, Walmart, or Google (even Google search)

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#57

Post by giancarlostoro »

johnpowell wrote: post #8
chevman wrote: post #2

Why is Google (and for that matter Apple) not helping to track the prior movement of every coronavirus patient where possible to identify additional potentially exposed individuals? Seems fairly straightforward given their massive surveillance infrastructure. Anyone at Apple or Google actually going to pitch in here and offer meaningful help? So far, crickets.

Because that would shine a light on just how creepy this all is. We know they do it but the normal person might be a bit concerned if Google and Apple just announced "We track you everywhere and who you interact with." My sister finally came around to thinking Facebook was going to far so she switched to Instagram. We had a uncomfortable conversation last month when I broke the news to her.

> We had a uncomfortable conversation last month when I broke the news to her.

That both are owned by the same company?

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#58

Post by ajross »

Jommi wrote: post #26
Animats wrote: post #20

Except that Google isn't doing that and said so.[1] [1] https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/13/google-says-its-not-p...

Can you point out to me the statement where Google denies working on the web tool?

Shouldn't the burden of proof go the other way around? You seem to be arguing that a product must exist unless the putative author denies it exists?

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#59

Post by gundmc »

ajross wrote: post #58
Jommi wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you point out to me the statement where Google denies working on the web tool?

Shouldn't the burden of proof go the other way around? You seem to be arguing that a product must exist unless the putative author denies it exists?

But Google themselves have said it exists: https://twitter.com/Google_Comms/status/1238989460127338497

Re: Alphabet, Walmart join U.S. effort to speed up coronavirus testing

#60

Post by ajross »

gundmc wrote: post #59
ajross wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shouldn't the burden of proof go the other way around? You seem to be arguing that a product must exist unless the putative author denies it exists?

But Google themselves have said it exists: https://twitter.com/Google_Comms/status/1238989460127338497

As has been pointed out ad nausum, what Google said was "Verily is in the early stages of development, and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time." which clearly does not match the product announced by the executive branch (i.e. it's not for everyone, there's no existing plan for rollout beyond the bay area).

And pointing that messaging mixup out is part of the job of good journalists, because the public deserves to know what it's getting (i.e. if you're in Seattle or NY, Google has announced nothing for you but hope). And in particular because this administration has a terrible record with delivering a clear message. Yet some people insist that as long as there is some reasonably charitable reading of a statement that isn't an obvious lie, that somehow the messaging problem is the media's to solve?

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