Welcome to CNET Top 5, where we count down the hottest tech trends. I'm
Tom Merritt.
It's time to read the mind of the Internet.
Every few months we look into Google's search records at
google.com/insights/search to see what the fastest rising search terms
were worldwide over the past three months, and then figure out if
there's any rhyme or reason to it.
Let's count 'em down.
At No. 5, fb. Mysterious. It could mean the American Farm Bureau, or
waste-water treatment product manufacturer F. B. Leopold Company, but
it's most likely the shorthand slangy way to say Facebook.
Which leads us to No. 4, facebook en espanol. Facebook launched its
Spanish version just about a year ago. But apparently Spanish speakers
just started looking for it in large numbers. I mean en grandes
cantidades.
Up to No. 3, Avatar. Now this could mean...oh please we know it means
James Cameron's box office smash full of huge blue people speaking an
invented language. But what were people searching for? The plot?
Sliding in at No. 2, e okul, a returning term on the rising Google
search list. It's an effort to pull all off Turkeys school records
into the cloud. Must be that time of year again in Turkey.
Before we get to No. 1, it's time for another lame prize.
Be one of the first 10 people to answer the question correctly at the
blog posting for this top 5 at blog.cnettv.com, and you could be chosen
at random to win
These fabulous fake binoculars, for searching! (Binoculars do not
actually magnify)
Here's the question. What has been the fastest rising Google search
term between 2004 and the present.
Blog.cnettv.com to post your answer.
All right. Let's get to No. 1. The fastest rising Google search term
over the past three months.
At No. 1, it's...
Haiti. Obviously the earthquake in Haiti captured the interest of the
world, so it's no surprise to see it at the top. But it also won't be a
surprise to see it fall from this list three months from now. So let me
take a moment to emphasize that continuing help is needed in Haiti even
now that the cameras and the movie stars have moved on. You can make a
big difference now more than ever. Go to cnet.com/haiti and click on
"How you can help" to find out the ways you can contribute. Thank you.
Well That's it for this edition of CNET Top 5.
Don't forget to answer the trivia question at blog.cnettv.com if you
want the mostly nonfunctional toy binoculars.
I'm Tom Merritt. See you next time.
