What Three Words

[Dutch01527]

I am sure that many people are aware of this but just in case anyone is not there is a new location technology starting to be widely used. The What Three Words company has divided the world int 3 metre squares each identified by three words. The technology is being used by the coast guard, emergency services and others.

There is a free app download for phones and tablets using inbuilt gps and not requiring phone signal. Open it and it will give a location. For example my boat is currently moored at “rises.stow.jobs”.

If I needed help I think that this much safer to give that location than 51degrees 27.448 minutes North 3 degrees 10.429 minutes West. Much less margin for error in a force 10 with water up to your knees.

I have heard a Mayday twice in my life, once in a Force 12 Typhoon in the South China Sea on a cargo ship where I was able to note the position accurately but was in no position to help and once in Solent in a sailing boat where I did not have time to get below and note the position and could not retain in memory the lat and long. I could have remembered three words I hope.

What Three Words may be the second major navigation positional advancement since the invention of the chronograph, GPS being the first.

 

[Juan Twothree]

I have heard W3W used in a distress situation on several occasions.

Whilst it definitely has its uses, the only problem we have found is that if a word is misheard, for example for one that sounds very similar but is spelt slightly differently, it can move your position by perhaps a few miles, or maybe to the other side of the world.

This has resulted in the CG then asking the causality vessel to spell each of the three words phonetically, which rather seems to defeat the object.

At least with lat and long, you only need to get part of it right to send a lifeboat to the right general area.

A position to 3 decimal places might seem a lot to remember and write down, but just the degrees and minutes will get help to within a mile of the casualty.

The finer details can be dealt with later, if need be.

 

[neilf39]

I think it is really good. I have used it several times and really does get you to within a few metres.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

How does this work if at sea and there are no objects to describe the 3m grid you are in?

 

[boomerangben]

I have heard W3W used in a distress situation on several occasions.

Whilst it definitely has its uses, the only problem we have found is that if a word is misheard, for example for one that sounds very similar but is spelt slightly differently, it can move your position by perhaps a few miles, or maybe to the other side of the world.

This has resulted in the CG then asking the causality vessel to spell each of the three words phonetically, which rather seems to defeat the object.

At least with lat and long, you only need to get part of it right to send a lifeboat to the right general area.

A position to 3 decimal places might seem a lot to remember and write down, but just the degrees and minutes will get help to within a mile of the casualty.

The finer details can be dealt with later, if need be.

Lat and long is no better. I had an incident where we were tasked to a lat long and ended up 120 miles away from where the casualty was. One number wrong is all it takes. It doesnt matter what system you use, it is fallible.

 

[Dutch01527]

It works land or sea, it maps the whole world randomly and Is not related to local physical features.

I do not think that confirming the words phonetically takes away the advantages especially for people who are not trained in Navigation.

 

[Mark-1]

W3W is proprietary with all the associated drawbacks.

What3words: 'Life-saving app' divides opinion

 

[Sandy]

I prefer the old trusted Lat and Long, or the British National Grid.

To misquote CJ from the Rise and Fall of Reggie Perrin, "I didn't get where I am today by using three words".

 

[Robin]

How does it know which square you are in-use phones gps??

 

[Black Sheep]

How does it know which square you are in-use phones gps??

Yes, it uses the phone's Location service, which will normally use the GPS / other satellite system / alternative systems

 

[mm42]

I’m involved in search and rescue and it does make things easier. Most 999 call handling systems now accept it for dispatch and for most people who aren’t navigators it gives a lot better chance of getting an accurate location.

 

[Gary Fox]

W3W sounds like a solution in search of a problem.
The 'inventor' claims it was dreamed up because of the alleged difficulties of a group of people being unable to meet in the same place at the same time.
That's not a technology problem, it's an education problem. (And an attitude problem.)

It was invented to create another cartel of digital billionaires, I don't believe for one nanosecond this is a humanitarian enterprise.

 

[ctva]

How does it know which square you are in-use phones gps??

Exactly.

It is a simple dumbed down layer on top of GPS.

The more layers, the more likely an error.

Lat / Long, 6 fig GRid Ref or distance and bearing from a known point works.

I think a lot is down to the ease of accessibility to the ‘outdoor’ environment without learning the skills.

 

[Newboy6458]

It’s all app based, so just requires a smart phone and internet connection.
It was designed, I believe, to help land based emergency services locate people in difficulties , a good example being when a driver goes through a hedge at night in a remote location . If they were able to contact help, a text with a link to the app could be sent . This would then be used to send the position back to the ambulance service or whoever .
I’ve put in on my technically challenged other half’s phone for when she’s out n about ( n positionally clueless).

 

[mjcoon]

I have used it when given W3W by someone else. Seems to me the major trap is that if you cross the 3m boundary to another square you get three different words and the only way to realise that the squares are adjacent is to convert both back to lat/long.

But it is certainly easier to commit three random words to short term memory than the equivalent number of digits!

 

[pyrojames]

W3W might have worked for my wife when she had a serious bike crash and came too, not knowing where she was. However thanks to her phone it had been uploaded to the cloud and wasnt actually on her phone. The signal where she was, wasnt enough to download the app, so emergency services triangulated on her phone anyway. Made me think that W3W wasnt actually all that useful in emergency situations.

 

[Newboy6458]

Exactly.

It is a simple dumbed down layer on top of GPS.

The more layers, the more likely an error.

Lat / Long, 6 fig GRid Ref or distance and bearing from a known point works.

I think a lot is down to the ease of accessibility to the ‘outdoor’ environment without learning the skills.

A lot of people cross fairly remote areas even in this country and are totally unaware of their position and would be unable to summon help, accurately, to their location if needed.
No one ever got poor by underestimating the ability of the average citizen?

 

[duncan99210]

It’s a great solution to pinpointing rural locations. When you contact the emergency services, they’ll ask for a postcode. Not much use in a rural setting where a postcode can cover a considerable area. The three words thing ties it down and the emergency services are only too happy to have it.
I’ve had to call an ambulance to a suspected heart attack at our gig shed: post code covered a road 3/4 mile long. Then got into complicated explanation to control room, talking them through a map to pinpoint the shed. They did ask if we had “what three words“ but we didn’t... I don’t think it added to the response time but it did increase my stress levels in what was already a difficult situation. We now have a placard in the window giving the “what three words” location for future reference.
The great thing about the system is that it is reasonably idiot proof and doesn’t need any expertise other than reading three words off a screen, so it’s open to anyone to use it as soon as it’s downloaded. I don’t see it replacing lat/long at sea but for out of the way places it’s a useful tool.

 

[Gary Fox]

Also, it is totally pointless for a large percentage of society: those who don't have a suitable, charged mobile in their pocket at all times, or haven't downloaded and studied the app, or don't know how to fiddle with little buttons on a gadget, at a time when they need rescuing.

So just for starters: to mention those who might need rescuing, kids and the elderly won't be located by using W3W, even in rich western locations with 100% mobile signal coverage.


A big percentage of the world's population won't be able to use it; W3W inherently creates an unethical,two-tier rescue infrastructure.

The more you think about it, the more it stinks.

 

[Newboy6458]

W3W might have worked for my wife when she had a serious bike crash and came too, not knowing where she was. However thanks to her phone it had been uploaded to the cloud and wasnt actually on her phone. The signal where she was, wasnt enough to download the app, so emergency services triangulated on her phone anyway. Made me think that W3W wasnt actually all that useful in emergency situations.

Brilliant. So glad she was found.
However having the app preinstalled, a text with her would have done the job equally well, and more accurately.
It doesn’t matter , normally, if you move squares. 3 metres by 3 metres is normally more than close enough. The front and back doors to my house are in different squares ?