Twitter is famous for letting people share their thoughts anytime, anywhere. Now users can see the exact location the tweet was posted by using the Tweet Positioning System (TPS) developed by Humana. TPS combines the functions of Twitter Search with Google Maps to offer a real-time geographic view. 

A recent update on Twitter allows users the option of sharing their current locations when they tweet.  Then, when other users enter any search phrase into the TPS search box, the “geo-tagging” feature produces a map showing “hot spots” where Twitter conversations on the search topic are being held at that moment in time.  Twitter users can then click on the hotspots to view or join conversations.

Humana originally developed TPS as a tool to gain information and insight into areas such as product development, event management and regional sales and marketing, but decided to share the tool with the public. 

“At Humana, we’re interested in engaging communities of like-minded people around concepts like health and wellness,” explained Greg Matthews, a director in Humana’s Innovation Center. “We originally developed the TPS tool with this in mind, but we quickly realized it might have applications beyond that. A small business, for example, might want to see what people in their market are saying about them or their industry to help them improve their products or services.”

Mathews added, “If nothing else, it’s fun to play with the tool to see where people are talking about the things that matter to you, such as your favorite food or favorite team. The geographic differences can also be pretty fascinating as you try to figure out why a certain topic resonates in one area, but not in another.”