I understand the basic concept, ie dividing the planet up into small squares, each with a unique reference, but surely somehow you need to know the 3 words involved in order to find that precise location? And if you know the location to begin with, through eg Google Earth/apple maps etc, does it not become a bit redundant? If you’re in trouble somewhere and actually have a connection to the web/GPS, then surely a decent enough OS/map reference would suffice?
I’m not 5 but still confused! Thanks…
In: 0
Thanks all for your responses. The fact that it only really pinpoints locations you already know, or businesses etc makes more sense, and the concept of remembering words more easily than a string of numbers/characters (of course there had to be an XKCD about the subject! Thanks u/cnash).
I think my initial misgivings were that when it first launched there was a lot of mis-reporting (not necessarily by W3W, but through typically lazy journalism) as to its overall uses, specifically regarding how it was going to transform emergency/rescue services that caused my initial confusion/scepticism.
I was imagining conversations with friends and family along the lines of ‘On Wednesday at 3.30 pm I’m going to fall and break my ankle in a ravine at ‘waffle chair sporadic’ if you could come and pick me up.’ I realise now that once the location is pinpointed it is a useful tool to help direct others to said location.
Thanks again!
Latest Answers