4 ms·

The problem of "under addressed" places in the world is addressed (no pun intended) by several companies. Eg. What3Words (w3w.co) has created a grit of 3mx3m sq

The problem of "under addressed" places in the world is addressed (no pun intended) by several companies. Eg. What3Words (w3w.co) has created a grit of 3mx3m squares which cover the entire planet. Each of this squares is identified by three words. Post/Mail organizations in several countries already accept those addresses. Google also has the OLC (Open Location Code) to address an area of adjustable size on earth. I find w3w very convinient to communicate a place over a voice connection (radio) or by writing it down on paper. Nothing you couldn't do by sending latitude and longitude, but more convinient.

heartbreak 9y ago
I’m only aware of one government postal org that uses w3w. Are there others beyond Côte d'Ivoire?
saagarjha 9y ago
While the concept is interesting, the issue I have with What3Words is that they force you to use their service to figure out what an address actually means. In other words, you can't use it at all without being bound to their whims. Kind of a big deal when working with something as open and public and universal as addresses.
- scooter_de 9y ago
  I don't understand your "what it means" statement. Can you elaborate a little bit plz?
  - maxerickson 9y ago
    Say I successfully convey to you a 3 word address from my proprietary location database: Beep boop blort. Without access to my database, you don't have much information.
craigds 9y ago
Is it really more convenient? Coordinates make sense to everyone and every map tool can understand them. W3W phrases are useless unless you happen to have the app. Also, there are a few amusing clones... http://www.what3fucks.com/ http://www.what3fucks.com/
- scooter_de 9y ago
  Almost every Sunday morning I put my kayak at mere.digests.undergo. I could say "at the 8th line bridge North of West Montrose, ON, Canada" or I could say at "43.624987N, 80.447249W" or I could say let's meet at OLC "86MXJHG3+247" or "JHF3+X4 Inverhaugh". Yeah - some of the clones sound funny but not useful in real world social interaction.

heartbreak 9y ago

I’m only aware of one government postal org that uses w3w. Are there others beyond Côte d'Ivoire?

saagarjha 9y ago

While the concept is interesting, the issue I have with What3Words is that they force you to use their service to figure out what an address actually means. In other words, you can't use it at all without being bound to their whims. Kind of a big deal when working with something as open and public and universal as addresses.

scooter_de 9y ago
I don't understand your "what it means" statement. Can you elaborate a little bit plz?
- maxerickson 9y ago
  Say I successfully convey to you a 3 word address from my proprietary location database: Beep boop blort. Without access to my database, you don't have much information.

craigds 9y ago

Is it really more convenient? Coordinates make sense to everyone and every map tool can understand them. W3W phrases are useless unless you happen to have the app. Also, there are a few amusing clones... http://www.what3fucks.com/ http://www.what3fucks.com/

scooter_de 9y ago
Almost every Sunday morning I put my kayak at mere.digests.undergo. I could say "at the 8th line bridge North of West Montrose, ON, Canada" or I could say at "43.624987N, 80.447249W" or I could say let's meet at OLC "86MXJHG3+247" or "JHF3+X4 Inverhaugh". Yeah - some of the clones sound funny but not useful in real world social interaction.