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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What3words app- please get it!

28 replies

Vivavivienne · 12/08/2019 21:47

Not AIBU, but could I please ask if those of you who walk dogs, ride horses, go running or whatever could please down load this app? It’s free and tonight it would have been so phenomenally helpful for my family at a very scary moment.

Several emergency services are now using it; it’s a locator app to locate you within a 3m sq area. So no more “I’m by the big clearing”’or “I’m on the M5”.

OP posts:
Unhomme · 12/08/2019 21:59

I second this. Excellent app. And British too.

Vivavivienne · 12/08/2019 22:08

Thanks @Unhomme glad you agree. The ambulance service that covers my area uses it too.

OP posts:
FurnitureAndBackgammon · 12/08/2019 22:10

Hmm I'll have a look.......

TooStressyTooMessy · 12/08/2019 22:10

Yes yes please get this app. It is so useful and it baffles me why it is so badly publicised.

FurnitureAndBackgammon · 12/08/2019 22:11

By the way what happened to your family today, OP?

Notaboxer · 12/08/2019 22:15

I’m amazed at this! Never heard of it before

Hope all ok OP

ivegotthisyeah · 12/08/2019 22:15

I have this after I saw it advertised on our local police page very good idea

jimmyhill · 12/08/2019 22:16

It's not all it's cracked up to be, and very heavily marketed... shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/03/why-bother-with-what-three-words/

HappyParent2000 · 12/08/2019 22:18

Can’t you just WhatsApp them your location from google maps?

Also you can pull up coords their too, what’s the difference?

WTW works great in countries with no organised systems, it started out for postal services in countries with no street names.

It’s a nice idea but it’s one of many options.

Losinglola · 12/08/2019 22:20

It's not widely used by the emergency services. Some will i use it, but only if everything else fails. It's not something to be relied upon.

WeShouldBeFriends · 12/08/2019 22:20

Can’t you just WhatsApp them your location from google maps?
Because the 999 call taker cannot receive that information and send it to the crew.

LoveGrowsWhere · 12/08/2019 22:23

Local fire service recommend it

DadDadDad · 12/08/2019 22:26

That was an interesting read, jimmyhill. I've always seen W3W as a bit of fun, and could see how it might be useful in places where there are no well-established street addresses. I hadn't appreciated some of the problems it raises. As it says, they have a good PR machine!

Vivavivienne · 12/08/2019 22:28

I didn’t mean to imply it was the be all
and end all of safety; but it’s another tool, isn’t it?

@jimmyhill
Why should it be negative that it’s heavily
Marketed?

Tonight one of us fell off a young horse and was very confused about where they were. We eventually found them with a search party, and they are now being cared for. I was recommended that app after the fact, and can’t help but feel it may have cut down the time taken to find them.

It wouldn’t have found the bloody horse any quicker though!!!

OP posts:
Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 12/08/2019 22:47

Thanks OP , I'll look it up

jimmyhill · 15/08/2019 15:45

It seems that What3Words are on a publicity blitz - first Mumsnet and now the BBC News website. Remarkable! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49319760

TooStressyTooMessy · 15/08/2019 16:23

Also publicised by my local fire service and police service, although very badly. They want people to download and use it.

5foot5 · 15/08/2019 16:25

Discovered this a few months ago. Very taken with it

chomalungma · 15/08/2019 16:33

I saw this this morning. Think it's a great idea.

There are some very cynical people on here. It's free and has some great uses.

DDIJ · 15/08/2019 16:37

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chomalungma · 15/08/2019 16:42

My DC would be able to give a grid reference if lost

Good for them. I suppose grid references are long complex numbers that can be given inaccurately. How long does a grid reference need to be to a 3 square metre location?

highheelsandbobblehats · 15/08/2019 16:48

My DC would be able to give a grid reference if lost.
Casual humblebrag.

Heart were advertising this non stop when I was on a 4 hour drive a couple of weeks ago.

DDIJ · 15/08/2019 16:51

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BlueSkiesLies · 15/08/2019 17:02

My DC would be able to give a grid reference if lost

So could I, if I was hillwalking with a map.

If I had a car crash, on a quiet stretch of countryside road, I wouldn't have a map whit me to be able to give you a grid reference. I would however, have my phone with me.

DDIJ · 15/08/2019 17:04

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