With the increase in users of microblogging sites such as Twitter.com, a profusion of services have emerged to support analysis and search of this live 'stream' of data. This Tweetgrid example provides an view of how seaching on particular hashtags (designated with a '#') can yield useful results and interesting connections. Importantly, it provides insight into how people in distant places are talking about your field of interest, what metaphors they are using, who they are recommending etc.. Obviously there is a lot of junk and so, as always, you need to exercise discernment. You can update the #hashtags on the tweetgrid and save your own personal glimpse into the mind of the collective. And if you are on twitter, please follow our updates on @KMAfrica by typing FOLLOW KMAFRICA and don't forget to update your Activity Stream with your twitter account details. Further information about #hashtags at Hashtags.org. If you want your message hashtagged, just add the hastags inside the message eg. if you want to twitter on the KMAfrica stream, include #KMAfrica to your message.

Useful #hashtags for search

• #changemgt (change management)

• #KM (knowledge management)
• #KMAfrica
• #quotes
• #innovation
• #science
• #socialmedia
• #UNDP
• #swineflu (swineflu data, news & infections)
• #haiku (poetry)
• you can also try city names like #joburg #nairobi etc