What 3 words Navigation

BombayBill · Apr 30, 2021

This has been mentioned in the forum before but I think it is worth re-posting. If the mods what to merge my post go right ahead.

Here is an alternative to the difficulties of finding a person/place at a unnamed fixed location. With the use of our handy phones we all can find a named location with the help of Google etc. (ie. meet me in front of the Cathedral in SdC)

However this not so easily done when you need to locate someone/someplace at an un-named location. (ie. meet me at the bar where the tree used to be!) Add to this the issues of using different navigation apps, different GPS formats (decimal vs degrees), and language difficulties.

Here is a simpler solution. There is a company that has created an address for every 3 meter square location on the planet. The location can be described with just 3 words. The words are native to your language of choice. You send the location to a friend by any means at hand. It is easily communicated without the possibility of missing a GPS digit.

So if you want to describe a location on the Camino it be described as:

https://w3w.co/weaned.courtyard.topmost (guess where this is)

More information can be found at https://what3words.com/news/

Maybe those folks over at the very active Camino Olvidado thread might find this useful to document what exactly Enders means when he describes a location.

Robo · Apr 30, 2021

Interesting. I hadn't seen that before

NorthernLight · Apr 30, 2021

Some police forces in Canada are now using the what3words app for search and rescue efforts. They’ve had lost hikers (with smart phones) download the app and call in their location, quite successfully.

Deleted member 73526 · Apr 30, 2021

I'm envious of the folks on the shore of Utah lake, whose location is "duck.duck.duck"

VNwalking · Apr 30, 2021

I've been beating the drum for what3words for a while, because it is a fabulous idea.

Here is a previous thread:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/what3words-app-for-safety.63854/

Chenahusky · Apr 30, 2021

I have used the app for a while and find it very useful. I would only add one rider, it it very important to get the words accurate. It is possible to have an address, with one or more of the same three words pluralised, within the same area. It has been known for emergency services to have gone to the wrong one. Rare but still a problem.

henrythedog · Apr 30, 2021

BombayBill said:
This has been mentioned in the forum before but I think it is worth re-posting. If the mods what to merge my post go right ahead.

Here is an alternative to the difficulties of finding a person/place at a unnamed fixed location. With the use of our handy phones we all can find a named location with the help of Google etc. (ie. meet me in front of the Cathedral in SdC)

However this not so easily done when you need to locate someone/someplace at an un-named location. (ie. meet me at the bar where the tree used to be!) Add to this the issues of using different navigation apps, different GPS formats (decimal vs degrees), and language difficulties.

Here is a simpler solution. There is a company that has created an address for every 3 meter square location on the planet. The location can be described with just 3 words. The words are native to your language of choice. You send the location to a friend by any means at hand. It is easily communicated without the possibility of missing a GPS digit.

So if you want to describe a location on the Camino it be described as:

https://w3w.co/weaned.courtyard.topmost (guess where this is)

More information can be found at https://what3words.com/news/

Maybe those folks over at the very active Camino Olvidado thread might find this useful to document what exactly Enders means when he describes a location.

The emergency services in the UK use this also - as do, perhaps surprisingly, building materials suppliers.
I ran a supplies business for a while and delivering to new-build sites was always an issue.
‘What’s the delivery address?’
‘I don’t know - we haven’t built it yet’

Kanga · Apr 30, 2021

Yes, we've downloaded What3Words too. Very handy for locating my husband!

Deleted member 73526 · Apr 30, 2021

Kanga said:
Yes, we've downloaded What3Words too. Very handy for locating my husband!

But how did he end up there?

Deleted member 73526 · Apr 30, 2021

And now a serious contribution - If you are using a smartphone with WhatsApp installed, you can also share location information from the app to another WhatsApp user. Since many people in Spain use the app for communication, it's quite handy. And since you can continue to share your location for a period of time, it's a good way to communicate with a taxi driver who's on his way to pick you up or a person that you've arranged to meet "sometime this afternoon in the town center."

How to use live location | WhatsApp Help Center

faq.whatsapp.com

If a Spanish person asks you to share your "ubication" on WhatsApp, this is what they are requesting.

VNwalking · Apr 30, 2021

Oh, good point, @Raggy. Thank you.
It's also possible on Signal:

For Android:

Firstly, open the Signal app.

Then, go to the conversation.

Next, press the plus button.

Later, scroll right and select Location.

Now allow access to the location of your device.

Finally, click the confirm button and press the send button.

Congratulations! You have shared your location on Signal.

BombayBill · Apr 30, 2021

One of the advantages of this app over something like WhatsApp or your iPhone compass is the ability to convey a 3rd party address. That is you and your Camino buddy are separated, tired, very thirsty and want to meet at a location somewhere down the path. So you message and say “let’s meet at https://w3w.co/smiling.respects.cowboy “ , one of the greatest bars in the world to watch the sun go down.

Simon B · Apr 30, 2021

BombayBill said:
This has been mentioned in the forum before but I think it is worth re-posting. If the mods what to merge my post go right ahead.

Here is an alternative to the difficulties of finding a person/place at a unnamed fixed location. With the use of our handy phones we all can find a named location with the help of Google etc. (ie. meet me in front of the Cathedral in SdC)

However this not so easily done when you need to locate someone/someplace at an un-named location. (ie. meet me at the bar where the tree used to be!) Add to this the issues of using different navigation apps, different GPS formats (decimal vs degrees), and language difficulties.

Here is a simpler solution. There is a company that has created an address for every 3 meter square location on the planet. The location can be described with just 3 words. The words are native to your language of choice. You send the location to a friend by any means at hand. It is easily communicated without the possibility of missing a GPS digit.

So if you want to describe a location on the Camino it be described as:

https://w3w.co/weaned.courtyard.topmost (guess where this is)

More information can be found at https://what3words.com/news/

Maybe those folks over at the very active Camino Olvidado thread might find this useful to document what exactly Enders means when he describes a location.

What3words is brilliant. It can be used for all sorts of applications globally - pretty neat.

Deleted member 73526 · Apr 30, 2021

BombayBill said:
One of the advantages of this app over something like WhatsApp or your iPhone compass is the ability to convey a 3rd party address. That is you and your Camino buddy are separated, tired, very thirsty and want to meet at a location somewhere down the path. So you message and say “let’s meet at https://w3w.co/smiling.respects.cowboy “ , one of the greatest bars in the world to watch the sun go down.

I think of them as complementary rather than being in competition. Each has its uses.
For the scenario that you described, I think I'd just message the bar and street name, YMMV,

lt56ny · Apr 30, 2021

Is this concept too complicated for me????? Can I just follow the arrows???? Thankfully I will be doing the VDLP and most of it is just walking straight and to the north. Whew!!!

Rick of Rick and Peg · Apr 30, 2021

The same location can be given with different words in different languages.

Different places in your house can result in different words. Choose the spot with the easiest to remember (or type) words.

I've read of problems getting native Americans registered to vote because they may not have a street address. This could solve the address problem if politicians wanted to use it.

Deleted member 73526 · Apr 30, 2021

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
I've read of problems getting native Americans registered to vote because they may not have a street address. This could solve the address problem if politicians wanted to use it.

Solves nothing for the folks living in this corner of Kansas.

Gerard Murdoch · Apr 30, 2021

BombayBill said:
This has been mentioned in the forum before but I think it is worth re-posting. If the mods what to merge my post go right ahead.

Here is an alternative to the difficulties of finding a person/place at a unnamed fixed location. With the use of our handy phones we all can find a named location with the help of Google etc. (ie. meet me in front of the Cathedral in SdC)

However this not so easily done when you need to locate someone/someplace at an un-named location. (ie. meet me at the bar where the tree used to be!) Add to this the issues of using different navigation apps, different GPS formats (decimal vs degrees), and language difficulties.

Here is a simpler solution. There is a company that has created an address for every 3 meter square location on the planet. The location can be described with just 3 words. The words are native to your language of choice. You send the location to a friend by any means at hand. It is easily communicated without the possibility of missing a GPS digit.

So if you want to describe a location on the Camino it be described as:

https://w3w.co/weaned.courtyard.topmost (guess where this is)

More information can be found at https://what3words.com/news/

Maybe those folks over at the very active Camino Olvidado thread might find this useful to document what exactly Enders means when he describes a location.

Great idea. Could I plot a route using 3words, and use them as a navigational reference. I looked at their website, but still unsure.

BombayBill · Apr 30, 2021

Gerard Murdoch said:
Great idea. Could I plot a route using 3words, and use them as a navigational reference. I looked at their website, but still unsure.

I have the app on my phone and tested this. It appears you can. The app asked how I wished to navigate to a distant point. I chose Google, however it (Google) tends to prefer roads and not trails.

Sixwheeler · May 1, 2021

what words is being used extensively by emergency services in the United Kingdom and some courier companies too, it's both useful and easy to use. I like it because youcan search on map view then switch to satellite View and zoom right in to a specific square; click on that then select navigate (it will offer you a choice of the navigation apps you have - currently I'm using Google Maps) it will calculate the route and you click Start and off you go. I'm currently using it in the car instead of my Garmin as it means one less bit of kit cluttering up the dashboard but it have also used it successfully on foot too.

hecate105 · May 11, 2021

So its useful if you have a smartphone and have signal and have battery power.....

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