JTaylor91 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 With most people on here going out into the sticks on a regular basis I thought this app/website may be of some use. Emergency services are now using it to get an exact location of somebody that needs help, especially out in the countryside. Basically it divides the world into small squares each allocated with 3 words which the call handler can input to see where you are. https://what3words.com/about-us/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) It's not a new concept, but it's the first concept that's captured the public's imagination, partly because of the comedy word combinations that spring up. It relies on you being able to spell things right in a message, or being able to have a good enough line to be heard clearly, but it's a great principle. Apparently, in order to cover every single 3x3 square on the planet, you only need 40,000 words. Edited January 4, 2020 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Its an app worth having on your phone. I've used it a few times, not for anything important but it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spurs 14 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 I’ve had it on phone for a while , never used in yet , but I guess it’s nice to know it’s there if needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Does the app have the funtion to text the 3 words to someone? Maybe with a sig along the lines of. "This message has been sent via w3w and the sender may require assistance". Just thinking if you incapable of speach it'd be a good feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTaylor91 Posted January 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 1 hour ago, manthing said: Does the app have the funtion to text the 3 words to someone? Maybe with a sig along the lines of. "This message has been sent via w3w and the sender may require assistance". Just thinking if you incapable of speach it'd be a good feature. You can do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 2 hours ago, JTaylor91 said: You can do that. Cheers, might have a look then. Not that I'm often rendered speach less you'll understand 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) Ive been using this for some time now, it was used to track the whereabouts of anti activities a few months ago. Far easier to understand than a Grid Ref. Edited January 4, 2020 by Dougy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 I’ve had it on my phone for a while. Might need it at some point. There must be some funny word combinations out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted January 4, 2020 Report Share Posted January 4, 2020 Most courses I go on now recommended it for evac points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Strangelove Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 I suppose it’s easier for the masses to use if they can’t read a grid reference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam triple Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 Got it ,not worked out how to use it yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spurs 14 Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 I have been told that with just about everyone having smart phones these days that the rescue services have this app , coast guard , mountain rescue , search and rescue etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Dr. Strangelove said: I suppose it’s easier for the masses to use if they can’t read a grid reference! Or, for whatever reason, don't have access to a grid reference - which is most of us most of the time. Sure you can get it off a smart phone, but if you're doing that you may as well open the app and read out three words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkfanz Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 think ill stick with grid ref an lat/long,i can understand them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 25 minutes ago, hawkfanz said: think ill stick with grid ref an lat/long,i can understand them Lets hope the person your giving the instruction to understands them as well. For the sake of an app on your phone and a few minutes to learn to use it way wouldn't you have it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medic1281 Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 We’ve just had a notification that West Midlands ambulance service is now set up to use what three words if required. It just means the call handlers can plot the destination accurately and send it automatically to our sat nav/ data terminal. I’ve downloaded it onto my phone, just in case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 2 hours ago, hawkfanz said: think ill stick with grid ref an lat/long,i can understand them The receiver of that info needs to be able to read it, and you "need" to be able to give the correct info. In times of pressure you get 1 diget wrong and your in the next county. With the W3W its easier to remember than an 8 diget grid ref for the same area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Strangelove Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 I guess people will have a personal preference! Easy also to mishear a word, especially with a regional accent. Although if anything this might be more of a burden for emergency services if members of the public use it but the particular service doesn’t... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) On 04/01/2020 at 14:01, manthing said: Does the app have the funtion to text the 3 words to someone? Maybe with a sig along the lines of. "This message has been sent via w3w and the sender may require assistance". Just thinking if you incapable of speach it'd be a good feature. Yes sort of, if you click on share it brings up the last 3 people you have txt'd in you phone book. not sure about sig bit Just had a look. It sends a link to the person with instruction of what to do with the link and you can ad a message as well Edited January 5, 2020 by bluesj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hod Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Dougy said: The receiver of that info needs to be able to read it, and you "need" to be able to give the correct info. In times of pressure you get 1 diget wrong and your in the next county. With the W3W its easier to remember than an 8 diget grid ref for the same area. I’d venture that it is easier to get a word wrong than numbers, particularly when to get the 40k words, plurals have been used. That said w3w is not without merit and I have it on my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 5 hours ago, Medic1281 said: We’ve just had a notification that West Midlands ambulance service is now set up to use what three words if required. It just means the call handlers can plot the destination accurately and send it automatically to our sat nav/ data terminal. I’ve downloaded it onto my phone, just in case! Sussex Ambulance service use it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 Being out in the north sea, channel or off the west coast of Scotland on occasions I use 2x GPS enabled devices, a mobile phone and a PLB, so I can't see how another method of location would help me, but I know lots of others use it. Great idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 5 hours ago, Dr. Strangelove said: I guess people will have a personal preference! Easy also to mishear a word, especially with a regional accent. Although if anything this might be more of a burden for emergency services if members of the public use it but the particular service doesn’t... Grid references have the same problem, plus in a stressful situation it's easy to misread of a map/device. figures get mixed up or misheard. Reading three words is a lot easier for an under stress caller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted January 5, 2020 Report Share Posted January 5, 2020 2 hours ago, henry d said: Being out in the north sea, channel or off the west coast of Scotland on occasions I use 2x GPS enabled devices, a mobile phone and a PLB, so I can't see how another method of location would help me, but I know lots of others use it. Great idea though. Yeah. I'll stick to the DSC radio for my yakking; I don't have desire to get the phone out and accidentally give it a very deep bath! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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