What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates

Samurai · 24th January 2016, 18:10

A company has re-invented addressing using just 3 words. Various languages are supported. These 3 words will map to a gps coordinate of your choice.

Example: slipped.honest.expressed

The above is the address of the house where Anil Kumble used to live as a kid.

Very easy to remember, and easy to spell. If somebody misspells the address, you can easily correct it unlike a number.

Go to https://map.what3words.com to find the 3 word address to your favourite locations.

Full article: http://qz.com/561727/an-address-for-.../?sf43963741=1

Rahul Bhalgat · 24th January 2016, 18:29

Thanks Samurai for sharing this interesting piece of information.

It is quick and convenient. This shall help the common people to specify a location easily and in a way that could be easily remembered. I went to the what3words site and put a pin on my location. Immediately it suggested the three words.

I could not search the location in google maps using these three words.

If we inform these 3 words to someone, can he navigate to our place?

Samurai · 24th January 2016, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

If we inform these 3 words to someone, can he navigate to our place?

Well, he will need an app or device than converts the 3 words into gps co-ordinates and then navigate him to your location.

Soon, all the navigation software will start accepting 3 word address and then we don't have to struggle with crazy addresses like now.

ptushar · 24th January 2016, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

If we inform these 3 words to someone, can he navigate to our place?

Yes. It's possible.
For example, let's say I want to provide my exact location on Marine drive, Mumbai to someone. I locate my location and it provides me with a word combination. For e.g. reef.coiling.guests
I provide this string to my friend. Or I just send him the URL as https://map.what3words.com/Reef.coiling.guests
He logs into W3W and types this string in the app/site or simply clicks on the URL provided. This positions the pin to my exact location. He then clicks on share pin location and clicks on GPS. This gives the GPs location as "18.938187, 72.824085". Copy this and paste it on Google Maps or any other navigation maps. You are on your way.

Maybe in the future most maps will accept the string directly and that will make life much easier.

slicvic · 24th January 2016, 23:55

This is definitely the way forward

Even when you do know the correct address to a place, entering the whole thing on a touchscreen is quite annoying.

With just three words to enter, it will be so much simpler.

Jeroen · 25th January 2016, 08:26

It’s an interesting concept. The main problem is going to be to get an index. The 40.000 word mentioned, although it seem a lot doesn’t amount to much really. It all depends a bit on the accuracy of course.

But in order to use a 3 word location, somebody will need to have done a survey and put those three words into some database. A lot more work then driving around with your GPS survey car.

We will see how this works out.

Jeroen

Samurai · 25th January 2016, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen

It’s an interesting concept. The main problem is going to be to get an index. The 40.000 word mentioned, although it seem a lot doesn’t amount to much really.

It is 40000x39999x39998 actually, using permutation formula 40000!/(40000-3)!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeroen

But in order to use a 3 word location, somebody will need to have done a survey and put those three words into some database.

Not really, you just need an algorithm that generates the 3 words for a given coordinate, using a 40000 word vocabulary, giving roughly 40000³ possibilities. The GPS devices/apps need an algorithm that converts the 3 words back to the coordinate.

There is no need for any database storing the 3 word combo for every location.

alpha1 · 25th January 2016, 11:17

Haha, this reminds me of the Alpha Bravo Charlie kind of phonetics use.
But it is a nice concept - people remember string of words much better than string of numbers.

roy_libran · 25th January 2016, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

.......
There is no need for any database storing the 3 word combo for every location.

Yup.
All you need, are the bi-directional translator services or algorithms on both sides of the interaction and then this could go mainstream.

A good step ahead.

Samurai · 25th January 2016, 11:35

There are companies all around the world already using this.

https://what3words.com/partners/#pollinate

Imagine keeping your customer database using 3 word address for each customer. It is already a reality.

24th January 2016, 18:10	#1
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,014 Thanked: 50,162 Times View My Garage	What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates A company has re-invented addressing using just 3 words. Various languages are supported. These 3 words will map to a gps coordinate of your choice. Example: slipped.honest.expressed The above is the address of the house where Anil Kumble used to live as a kid. Very easy to remember, and easy to spell. If somebody misspells the address, you can easily correct it unlike a number. Go to https://map.what3words.com to find the 3 word address to your favourite locations. Full article: http://qz.com/561727/an-address-for-.../?sf43963741=1
	(17) Thanks

24th January 2016, 18:29	#2
Rahul Bhalgat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pune Posts: 1,192 Thanked: 2,005 Times	re: What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates Thanks Samurai for sharing this interesting piece of information. It is quick and convenient. This shall help the common people to specify a location easily and in a way that could be easily remembered. I went to the what3words site and put a pin on my location. Immediately it suggested the three words. I could not search the location in google maps using these three words. If we inform these 3 words to someone, can he navigate to our place? Last edited by Rahul Bhalgat : 24th January 2016 at 18:32.
	(1) Thanks

24th January 2016, 23:55	#5
slicvic BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: KA 19 Posts: 855 Thanked: 527 Times	re: What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates This is definitely the way forward Even when you do know the correct address to a place, entering the whole thing on a touchscreen is quite annoying. With just three words to enter, it will be so much simpler.
	() Thanks

25th January 2016, 08:26	#6
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 8,956 Thanked: 62,156 Times View My Garage	re: What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates It’s an interesting concept. The main problem is going to be to get an index. The 40.000 word mentioned, although it seem a lot doesn’t amount to much really. It all depends a bit on the accuracy of course. But in order to use a 3 word location, somebody will need to have done a survey and put those three words into some database. A lot more work then driving around with your GPS survey car. We will see how this works out. Jeroen
	() Thanks

25th January 2016, 11:17	#8
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,184 Thanked: 3,012 Times	re: What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates Haha, this reminds me of the Alpha Bravo Charlie kind of phonetics use. But it is a nice concept - people remember string of words much better than string of numbers.
	() Thanks

25th January 2016, 11:35	#10
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 26,014 Thanked: 50,162 Times View My Garage	re: What3words - A new way to specify GPS coordinates There are companies all around the world already using this. https://what3words.com/partners/#pollinate Imagine keeping your customer database using 3 word address for each customer. It is already a reality.
	(1) Thanks