What Three Words

[Deleted member 36384]

I'll download and have a look. It appears to work based on comments here, hence it would be silly not too have such a system for the very rare time it is needed. As it needs a phone link, then that answers the sea question, no phone connection, no WTW. Although at sea my firsts action to summon help would be VHF.

 

[Newboy6458]

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, haven't downloaded and studied the app, and do not know how to fiddle with little buttons on a gadget, at a time when they need rescuing.

That's a large percentage of the world's population, so W3W inherently creates an unethical,two-tier rescue infrastructure.

Hi Gary.
How about the millions of kids (fairly loose definition as I’m well n truly in Victor Meldrew age group), in this country alone. Out alone in the dark n pissed n fall over. Bet they’d still be able to use it.
Brilliant also in the third world where mobile phone signal coverage is much cheaper and more reliable than fixed land lines. Wish I’d had it 40 years ago working in the bush.
Two tier maybe, but don’t knock it’s use for those that can use it?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Wow! Less than a minute to install and use. Even with terrible spelling it found my home address and told me how to use it. It is really very easy.

 

[mjcoon]

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.

Are you really pining for a world where everyone has exactly the same facilities as everyone else as if we were all extended-phenotype clones?

 

[Black Sheep]

As it needs a phone link, then that answers the sea question, no phone connection, no WTW. Although at sea my firsts action to summon help would be VHF.

I think you misunderstand the way it works. It will give you the three words, when at sea, with no phone coverage (as long as the phone has location switched on). It won't SMS the words to anyone, but you can read them over the VHF

 

[Frogmogman]

What's not to like ? It's an extra weapon in the armoury, which will work for some people. It's usefulness in a marine environment will obviously be seriously limited by internet coverage.

My parents house is one that is hard to find from a GPS search on the postcode. W3W can show a precise address for the front door.

I just had a quick look, and the address for 10 Downing street is input.caring.brain. One spot in front of the stripey awning at the Squadron in Cowes is decking.flexed.twinge

 

[Newboy6458]

Out of interest I’ve just sent my location by text to my lad at university n counted the steps.
One tap to open the app
Second tap to select share
Third to choose text message (could easily be email WhatsApp whatever)
Fourth step to enter my lads name
Fifth step, tap send.
Done.
Under 10 seconds ?
90 seconds n reply from son asking wtf I’m doing.
Brilliant
(As an aside the first two words of my current position are blunders placidly, ?. Honest. The third also fits but that would be too much detail).

 

[Caraway]

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.

But what do you really think?

I have it written down on the notice board in our kitchen. We have one of those wide ranging postcodes. It may help one day.
I had the luxury of being able to choose the square in the garden that gave the best combination of words for using over the phone.
No, I won't tell you

 

[Dutch01527]

This forum makes me laugh. If it had been in existence when the wheel was invented there would have been flocks of posts claiming the wheel was dangerous, socially inequitable or would not work!

More seriously, it does not need internet coverage, just a gps capable phone. Of course there will be situation where it is not applicable but as a extra free option, why not?

 

[Hermit]

It is a very simply and elegant system set up by the (musician) founder because he and his collegues always used to struggle to find the stage door of many venues.

It is not random allocattion of words - words over the sea tend to be longer as they are less used. About 40,000 unique words are used to create the key locations using 57 trillion unique variations and Mongolia uses what3words for its postal service. Similar words or plurals, where repeated, are generally thousands of miles apart to avoid any confusion.

Some of my favourites from @what3rudewords on twitter are:

///rubbing.member.frantically in the States which is not far from:

///presidents.love.stormy off Hawaii

 

[Caraway]

///rubbing.member.frantically in the States seems to be in Idaho literally up the creek without a paddle.

 

[Gary Fox]

Are you really pining for a world where everyone has exactly the same facilities as everyone else as if we were all extended-phenotype clones?

No, in fact very far from it, I'm basically a small-government libertarian since you ask; but by definition, there can be no such beast as a humanitarian silicon valley start-up.
I'm merely calling a spade a spade. All my points still stand, despite your inventive coupling of the extended phenotype model with 'clones'...

 

[Mark-1]

This forum makes me laugh. If it had been in existence when the wheel was invented there would have been flocks of posts claiming the wheel was dangerous, socially inequitable or would not work!

More seriously, it does not need internet coverage, just a gps capable phone. Of course there will be situation where it is not applicable but as a extra free option, why not?

I think the risk is that it won't always be free - if it becomes the standard tool in an emergency situation it's going to become *very* expensive.

 

[Newboy6458]

I think the risk is that it won't always be free - if it becomes the standard tool in an emergency situation it's going to become *very* expensive.

It’s here , now, and currently free.
If it goes behind a paywall then I’m certainl human ingenuity will have a replacement equally capable within a short space of time.

 

[Gary Fox]

There's also a glaring risk of data leaking to criminals, political police, etc, by this new and simple method.

 

[Hermit]

....silicon valley start-up.

Posibly Silicon Fen. Chris Sheldrick is British and has a 100+strong team based in London.

Funding comes from the companies and countries who pay to incorporate it into their systems - not the end user.

 

[Mark-1]

Mongolia uses what3words for its postal service.

That's brilliant. Any idea if they use English language and character set? Google didn't help me.


EDIT: Just Googled and the Mongolian character set is bewildering to me. So I would guess the English character set is bewildering to a Mongolian. I'm slightly suspicious that the W3W marketing team might have jazzed up the story a bit. (I could be wrong.)

 

[Gary Fox]

I think the risk is that it won't always be free - if it becomes the standard tool in an emergency situation it's going to become *very* expensive.

Which is the fervent hope and prayer of the start-up entrepreneurs.
'Before we contact the rescue services, a quick word from our sponsors...'

 

[Gary Fox]

Posibly Silicon Fen. Chris Sheldrick is British and has a 100+strong team based in London.

Funding comes from the companies and countries who pay to incorporate it into their systems - not the end user.

If it's free to the end user, then he or she is the product. (See also Facebook, Twitter for other examples.)
You data will be sold.

 

[Robin]

still requires an active phone signal or internet connection? we occasionally have neither, even at 'home' so what3 words then for those occasions elsewhere, crap. were. stuffed?