Table of Contents
How Do You use 3 Words to Describe an Exact 3 Meter Square of the Earth?
We use addresses countless times a day. We navigate to work, to the store, to our kids school or various activities. But it’s not necessarily the exact place we want to be that we’re navigating to. For example, we know that the address to the school is in one spot, but the pickup line starts in another. We know that the address to the grocery store is in the middle of the building but the entrance is on a certain side. Wouldn’t it be great to have a more detailed address so we didn’t have to drive or walk in circles to figure out where we actually want to be?
The first time I heard about What3Words, I was in a hurry and it was explained to me briefly. So I listened for a moment and thought “Okaaayyy…interesting,” then went about my day. The next time I heard about it, I had more time. I percolated the concept and, as the potential began to brew, I thought “Oooooooh! Oookay! That IS interesting!” Allow me to fill you in.
Related: What’s the Most Exciting News from the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show? All the Cars!
What3Words has Made 57 Trillion Addresses!
What3Words has assigned 3 words to describe every single 3 meter square of the earth, which amounts to 57 trillion addresses! It sounds really simple, but it’s actually quite complex. They’ve considered potential complications like similar word combinations. ///table.chair.lamp, for example, is located in New South Wales, Australia, while ///tables.chair.lamp is in Minnesota. They are certainly similar words but you are not likely to be confused about what country you’re navigating in. The more you think about it, the more exciting the potential is.
Related: 10 Things You Should Keep in the Car
3 Words Makes it Easy to Find Your Picnic Spot in a Huge Park
What about meeting friends in the park for a picnic? They can try to describe where they set up camp for the day, they can try to tell us what street corner to park on and which direction to walk in. But what if they could tell us the exact 3 meter square that they’re standing on? Wouldn’t that be amazing? And what if it happened not just in English, but whatever your primary language is?
What about those emergency moments when you don’t know where you are? There may not be road signs or landmarks or any way to find your bearings at all. In that moment, what if you could use 3 words to describe your exact location? Like ///stomp.bendy.songbook (That’s in the middle of the Mojave Desert, if you’re curious). W3W is being used by 911 operators throughout the US so, if you share your current 3 words with them, they should be prepared to locate your exact spot.
There are so many occasions where it’s more helpful to share an exact 3 meter square location than just an address. An address can get you to a building but where is the entrance? Where is the handicap accessible entrance? As someone who occasionally has to use a wheelchair, I know I’d love to have an exact location for a wheelchair accessible entrance since sometimes that is not the same as the front entrance!
Related: Lyft and Uber Safety Tips: Apps and Advice to You Get There Safely
- There is even a map of Burning Map utilizing What3Words!
And What About Ride Sharing?
What3Words is enabled in Lyft, Uber, and many taxis. You can literally find your exact What3Words location in the app and send it to your favorite ride sharing app. You can also use it for your drop off point and have them deposit you off at the exact entrance. It also works within Apple and Google Maps. You can select your exact square, hit navigate, and send it to your maps where it converts to longitude and latitude.
- Imagine Dragons embedded 3 words into their album cover to create a treasure hunt. Photo: Liv Leigh
Unconventional Uses of What3Words Abound
There are a ton of ways to integrate What3Words, which is probably why it has fueled some truly interesting projects. Like the Imagine Dragons Treasure Hunt. Back in 2017, they released their new album cover with 3 words subtly shown on the bottom. Unscrambling the anagram gave a What3Words location to buried treasure that some enthusiastic fans found! W3W has been used in adventure scavenger hunts and even an entire guide book series aiming to help you travel “Like a Local.”
So now that you know what What3Words are, I encourage you to try out the app and find out what YOUR 3 words are! It’s pretty fun to pick the 3 words for your home and find the best combination. I was fortunate enough to have the chance to interview What3Words so, if you’re interested, you can check that out here.
I hope now that you’ve let the idea of What3Words brew a bit, you’ll use it and find out how awesome it is.
I'm an enthusiast well-versed in the revolutionary concept of What3Words, and I'm thrilled to share my in-depth knowledge on this innovative addressing system. The article you've mentioned delves into the multifaceted applications of What3Words, and I'm here to provide a comprehensive overview of the key concepts discussed.
1. Detailed Addressing System:
The article emphasizes the limitations of traditional addresses and introduces the idea of using three words to describe an exact 3-meter square on Earth. This detailed addressing system aims to provide more precise locations beyond traditional street addresses.
2. Scale of What3Words:
What3Words has assigned a unique combination of three words to every 3-meter square on Earth, resulting in a staggering 57 trillion addresses. The complexity lies in ensuring distinct word combinations for similar locations to avoid confusion. For instance, the article mentions examples like ///table.chair.lamp in Australia and ///tables.chair.lamp in Minnesota.
3. Practical Applications:
-
Navigation and Picnics: The article highlights the practicality of using What3Words for finding specific spots, such as meeting friends in a park for a picnic. Instead of vague directions, individuals can share the exact 3-meter square they're located on.
-
Emergency Situations: What3Words proves valuable in emergency situations where traditional landmarks may be absent. 911 operators in the U.S. are utilizing this system to pinpoint exact locations based on the three-word address shared by individuals in distress.
-
Accessibility: The concept extends to enhancing accessibility, especially for individuals with specific needs. For instance, the article mentions the usefulness of identifying wheelchair-accessible entrances with precise 3-word locations.
4. Integration with Navigation Apps:
What3Words is seamlessly integrated into popular navigation apps, including Lyft, Uber, Apple Maps, and Google Maps. Users can find their exact What3Words location within these apps, making it convenient for ride-sharing and navigation purposes.
5. Unconventional Uses:
The article explores unconventional applications of What3Words, such as the Imagine Dragons Treasure Hunt. Artists embedded three words in their album cover, leading fans on a treasure hunt to a specific location. Additionally, the addressing system has been incorporated into adventure scavenger hunts and guidebook series, adding an element of excitement to travel experiences.
In conclusion, What3Words emerges as a versatile and powerful tool, revolutionizing the way we navigate and communicate locations. Its applications extend beyond conventional address systems, offering precise and universal location descriptions with just three words. If you're intrigued by this concept, I encourage you to explore the app and discover your own unique set of three words that define your location.
