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Imagine having a coordinate system be owned by a private company.
by raspyberr 2y ago
Imagine having a coordinate system be owned by a private company.
- bingbingbing777 2y agoYou're free to create your own, or not use theirs.
- Akronymus 2y agoDont they have a patent on it?
- sakjur 2y agoYeah. https://patents.google.com/patent/US9883333B2/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US9883333B2/en I think it’s also a good example of increasing computer dependency by ‘human centric’ design: I can quickly and manually sort through a bunch of packages with coordinates or pluscodes written on them with some sense of locality. What3Words is designed to give a sense of familiarity but require an API lookup for every single address. Letters and numbers also translate directly in most languages, words don’t (take bow as an example. Is it when someone leans over, an archer’s weapon of choice, or a cutesy headpiece?), so the familiarity aspect is limited to people with a good grasp of English. Its main feature is that it can be commercialized, unlike regular coordinate systems.
- toast0 2y ago> take bow as an example. Is it when someone leans over, an archer’s weapon of choice, or a cutesy headpiece? Front of a ship, duh.
- account42 2y agoOr we could agree that that's ridiculous and not allow companies to own such things. Free speech is a right. Interopability should be a right. Any infringement of those rights better gave a damned good reason. It's profitable isn't a good reason.
- BoxOfRain 2y agoA few years ago I had to call an ambulance for someone (in the UK) and began giving coordinates, only to hear 'oh do you have what3words it's easier that way' which I found very surprising! I don't love the idea of a proprietary coordinate system either, companies come and go but normal coordinates are universally understood.