I think the 3rd world would be where it's least useful, Carl. It's a system
that requires that you speak the same language as the person providing the
coordinates, that you can spell, and that you have an appropriate device that's
charged up and contains a proprietary database. I.e access to the system is
probably denied to most of the people it's claimed it's designed for.
For those who do have the knowledge and equipment to use it, I suspect it would
lose its attraction as soon as you have more than two or three of them to try
to remember. Then you'd realise you have to write them down, and you're no
better off than with numeric coordinates. Get just one letter wrong, and it
just tells you that it's invalid.
For centuries cartographers have sought systems that allow easy calculation of
the bearing and distance between two points. I doubt they'd be impressed with
this one that prevents you even having a guess at the relationship of two
coordinates that are just 3m apart.
I think this system is worse than useless. I can't understand why anyone would
even consider adopting it, and the only reason I can think of for anyone to
invent it is to force people to buy their database.
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl Clifford
> Sent: Wednesday, 23 September 2015 10:16 PM
> To: Peter Shute
> Cc: Steve Clark;
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] What3words
>
> Peter,
>
> It was developed to provide accurate addresses for people in
> 3rd world countries. Military targeting tech is somewhat more
> accurate than Whar3words, to the extent that it is possible
> to put a cruise missile through your front window, provided
> that the GIGO law is followed.
>
> Carl Clifford
>
> > On 23 Sep 2015, at 7:10 PM, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >
> > Steve, after a quick read about it, I think it's better
> suited to a military coding system, provided one doesn't mind
> bombing the wrong country every now and again.
> >
> > Peter Shute
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> >> On 23 Sep 2015, at 4:10 PM, Steve Clark
> <> wrote:
> >>
> >> G'day all
> >>
> >> I just heard about this new app called what3words that
> divides the globe up into 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares and
> converts the lat and long to a unique 3 word code.
> >>
> >> It was designed for the huge proportion of the world's
> population without any address system.
> >>
> >> My home address is labs.assemble.rollers
> >>
> >> So all I need to do is tell you that and you can navigate
> to my door. Not particularly useful given I have a proper
> address but brilliant for third world countries and I reckon
> it would be good for birding.
> >>
> >> Check it out and share your thoughts.
> >> iOS and Android
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >> Steve Clark
> >> Hamilton, Vic
> >>
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPod
> >> <HR>
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