What3words app- please get it!

[Vivavivienne]

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”.

I second this. Excellent app. And British too.

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

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

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

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

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

Hope all ok OP

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

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/

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.

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.

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.

Local fire service recommend it

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!

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!!!

Thanks OP , I'll look it up

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

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

Discovered this a few months ago. Very taken with it

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.

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?

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.

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.