(C) BoingBoing
This story was originally published by BoingBoing and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Why what3words is the best location app you're not using [1]
['Gail Sherman']
Date: 2024-03-20
What3words is the best location app, but people aren't using it enough. Everyone has GPS on their phones, so they may see a new way of identifying locations as unnecessary. However, there are instances when you may want to meet at a specific place without an address, such as a certain spot in Central Park. You could give someone directions from an entrance to the park or, in this case,use the semi-secret Central Park lamppost codes, but there is an easier way. Just tell them to enter "bunk.carry.awards" into the what3words app or website and narrow it down to a three-meter square area.
What3words explains that it "divided the world into 3 metre squares and gave each square a unique combination of three words."
Companies that use this technology include DHL, Subaru, and 101 UK emergency services agencies. It is a no-brainer for public safety agencies to use it. Knowing the specific location can greatly improve response times, even if a 911 caller knows where they are. It could be a lifesaver in situations when you are unsure of your location, such as being on a street with no signs or confusing numbering, or when you are lost in the woods. Personally, I really hope that Doordash starts using what3words because every time I order, they claim that my house – which is clearly marked, well-lit, and only twenty feet from the curb — is hard to find.
See more useful stuff on Boing Boing.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://boingboing.net/2024/03/20/why-what3words-is-the-best-location-app-youre-not-using.html
Published and (C) by BoingBoing
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/boingboing/
