After looking at a sequence on GB News this morning What3words was featuring its advantages in finding you in a moment of crisis. Emergency services can use this app to locate victims in need of medical attention or you can find a destination with the three words not knowing the postcode. It is a clever concept and avoids trying to explain where you are if the recipient also has the app. Rather ingenious British first.

Been using it for a while... wish more people would cotton on tbh, it's very good.

It was the availability of the W3W app. that persuaded this dinosaur to swap his dumbphone for a smartphone.

W3W could be a life saver.

Most mountain rescue teams use a SMS based system that locates you if you have no data, or a dumb phone, or are in a poor signal area as text needs barely any signal. And see why it isn't as good as W3W say it is:- https://w3w.me.ss/

 

Basically it uses plurals/similar sounding words, and they can be closer than you'd think, and not in a different continent or is that difference continance? and anyone with a lisp is struggling, anyone who can't read or speak well is struggling, better than nothing but flawed.

 

All recent smartphones send their location automatically when you dial 999/112/911 why do we need anything else?

 

40 minutes ago, NJRJ said:

Most mountain rescue teams use a SMS based system that locates you if you have no data, or a dumb phone, or are in a poor signal area as text needs barely any signal. And see why it isn't as good as W3W say it is:- https://w3w.me.ss/

 

Basically it uses plurals/similar sounding words, and they can be closer than you'd think, and not in a different continent or is that difference continance? and anyone with a lisp is struggling, anyone who can't read or speak well is struggling, better than nothing but flawed.

 

All recent smartphones send their location automatically when you dial 999/112/911 why do we need anything else?

 

If mountain rescue, 999 etc, have no need for w3w I wonder why they were relying on it (in the link).. 

 

I see it being more useful in non emergency situations (like when I'm trying to find where I'm supposed to be picking my kid up and the postcode is the middle of a field (or she doesn't know it)).. 

I've seen this advertised over here in Germany too.

 

Just tried it out. Clever idea.

 

My 3 words are in German. I assume this is an international system? If I typed in the English it would work and vice versa?

Emergency services need a couple of ways to verify location, postcode is fine in towns, and then an unambiguous W3W could confirm location [1]. Trouble is out in the sticks on a mountain postcodes are obviously rubbish (Phone GPS can do Lat/Longditude or grid reference) but W3W can send you to wrong side of a ridge (most close matches are countries away) but see the attachment. W3W are pushing a product that is not quite right and if they push it enough the other better options will be ignored when emergency service systems get updated as it's currently free to them to decode locations (not free for logistics people).

 

If they made it what 4 words and dropped plurals and easily confused words it would be great - but safety stuff shouldn't be chargeable by the backdoor.

 

[1] Merseyside ambulance can't/won't use W3W or grid reference or lat/lon I tried and in the end I told them the nearest vehicle access in Royden park (Caldy Rugby Club) for a medical incident I helped with [2]

[2] Bloke shouting to me "get here now I need help" I think I was calmer than him, but then again I hadn't found a body (George wasn't dead actually).

what3words navigation would be even more useful if it as CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

 

Its definitely not CarPlay compatible (doesn't appear in the 'Customize' list), not sure about Android Auto as I'm an iPhone user.

I wonder where "effing effing EGR" is in the world ?

2 minutes ago, b1ackb1rd said:

I wonder where "effing effing EGR" is in the world ?

Wolfsburg?

Rescue and emergency services do not rely on W3W, but will use whatever data the caller can give them. If W3W is the location system the caller has, it gets used. W3W is millennials re-branding a concept and thinking they have another new idea again. 

The better system in the UK is still the OS 6 or 8 figure grid reference as it places you precisely on a ubiquitous mapping system that is used by all rescue services. It is always available with no reliance on batteries or signals as it is carried in paper form very easily. Anyone out on the hills should carry the OS map for area and know how to use it. Sadly technology has made folks think this is obsolete.

 

Instead of W3W app, folks should have the OS Locate app on their phone, which generates the exact grid reference of the location. I have used it to summon an ambulance to a remote road. They found us quickly and with no confusion.

On 31/07/2021 at 22:11, NJRJ said:

Most mountain rescue teams use a SMS based system that locates you if you have no data, or a dumb phone, or are in a poor signal area as text needs barely any signal. And see why it isn't as good as W3W say it is:- https://w3w.me.ss/

 

Basically it uses plurals/similar sounding words, and they can be closer than you'd think, and not in a different continent or is that difference continance? and anyone with a lisp is struggling, anyone who can't read or speak well is struggling, better than nothing but flawed.

 

All recent smartphones send their location automatically when you dial 999/112/911 why do we need anything else?

 

 

Also most GSM phones can make 999/112/911 calls without a SIM card or wi-fi connection its part of the 112/GSM protocol/agreement...& I climb in many places in the UK where you have very little if any mobile phone signal...so if you have to then walk a few miles to get a signal how the hell do you know where the original accident scene is if relying on this app as many phones use A-GPS...(assisted via the mobile phone signal).

 

Still can't beat traditional map reading/compass skills, & a standalone GPS...I mean they are only £75 for a basic Garmin etex10 Garmin eTrex® 10 GPS | Blacks

 

 

On 02/08/2021 at 00:53, NJRJ said:

 

 

^^^^^^...WTF!!!......I thought their fancy software was designed to avoid that & similar combinations would place you on the other side of the globe, so it would be obvious which of the similar combinations would be the correct one....

 

 

Just proves its a marketing exercise...

Edited 14 August, 20214 yr by fabdavrav