What3Words #Help999FindYou awareness campaign

[JP1]

This week, emergency services across the UK are joining forces to raise awareness of what3words in their local communities. The message is simple: this summer, #Help999FindYou by downloading the free what3words app and be prepared to give your 3 word address if needed.


We hope this simple action could save lives this summer, and we’d love for you to be involved in sharing this message


www.what3words.com #Help999FindYou

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=722548354881791

 

[Robt]

@JP1 while i think this is an excellent idea... Is it not over complicating it? why not make an SOS location APP. most people have smart phone with built in GPS. If you have the battery life to use 3 words, why not a GPS app? Not knocking you just interested.
If you are drunk, knocked out, dehydrated etc... surely its easier to press a few buttons rather than find your three word location?

 

[JP1]

@JP1 while i think this is an excellent idea... Is it not over complicating it? why not make an SOS location APP. most people have smart phone with built in GPS. If you have the battery life to use 3 words, why not a GPS app? Not knocking you just interested.
If you are drunk, knocked out, dehydrated etc... surely its easier to press a few buttons rather than find your three word location?

If the App is open or even if you open it up, you can see your location straight away. A lot of 999 call centres have access to the App immediately too

 

[Robt]

Ahhh, ok that makes better sense! Reason i ask. we had a call to a distressed salior on a rib that was ashore with engine trouble. It was august last year and he was very dehydrated. He rang 999 and gave his location as 300m from lighthouse... due to serve dehydration he was more like 3 miles!!! His phone doesnt suffer dehydration so any automation is good

 

[JCMaloney]

Made the BBC at last!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49319760

 

[Oscar]

It was on local news that my local emergency services are going to use it , Somerset, Devon and Cornwall ie South West.

 

[Dry Rot]

I don't even have a mobile phone but probably will need to get one soon due to old age and working alone outside with large animals.

Surely, the emergency services ought to be contactable through one, or at least a few, button presses, and then easily informed of my location?

Arrange something like this and maybe the system would be widely adopted. At the moment, I can't even remember the three words! And, if that is already available, explain the system with a flow chart so that even technophobes like me can set it up?

 

[Paddington]

You only have to get one word wrong to locate to another part of the country. Ours is something like hot, nannies plus another word I can't remember, so a call to the police might get me put through to the vice squad...

 

[Dry Rot]

You only have to get one word wrong to locate to another part of the country. Ours is something like hot, nannies plus another word I can't remember, so a call to the police might get me put through to the vice squad...

Thank goodness someone else has trouble remembering the words! I thought it was just me! Somehow it ought to be possible to put it on speed dial or something? Even my bloody camera has GPS these days (which doesn't mean I can work it though).

 

[Nearly]

Little point trying to remember your wtw location as you might have to get them to find you under a hedge at the bottom of the back field.
Some of them are amusing though.

 

[AGN76]

Is it encrypted? What If I decide to rob a bank, can plod track me with it?

 

[Andrew]

Thank goodness someone else has trouble remembering the words! I thought it was just me! Somehow it ought to be possible to put it on speed dial or something? Even my bloody camera has GPS these days (which doesn't mean I can work it though).

The whole point is you don’t remember it. When you call 999 from your phone you look at the app and give them the location of where you are at the time. Not the location of your farm 2 miles away, then give directions along a track etc

 

[Dman2]

You only have to get one word wrong to locate to another part of the country. Ours is something like hot, nannies plus another word I can't remember, so a call to the police might get me put through to the vice squad...

Hot, Nannies
Not sure we want to know what the other word is

But to be honest, can`t see the point of this
Unless someone can explain??

 

[Dry Rot]

My (Italian) vet got lost trying to find my place today.

I've informed the practice about What3Words, but I would feel much happier if it was explained better.

Sounds like they want to get a Dragon (as in Dragons' Den) on board who is switched on to branding and marketing. The title isn't really very inspiring, for a start.

Can we change the 3 words to something more memorable?

 

[Andrew]

Hot, Nannies
Not sure we want to know what the other word is

But to be honest, can`t see the point of this
Unless someone can explain??

Your phone knows exactly where it is give or take a few metres. If you have to call the emergency services they need to know where you are. You can find out the lat and long of where your phone is, and read that off, but it’s long and easier to make a mistake. 3 words is quick and easy.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

I’m not keen on it. I hate to bust JP1s bubble here, but it’s a completely proprietary and locked in system. It’s a monopoly in other words.

Not really a good approach (for anyone other than W3W) I think in my humble view for a geolocation system.

From a competing system, but some words of wisdom in there...

what3words - OpenStreetMap Wiki

wiki.openstreetmap.org

 

[JP1]

Another App that may be useful for your loved ones

5 mins ·
?Planning to go horse riding? Play it safe with Huufe's SafeRide. ?
If you fall, it will send your 3 word address to your nominated contacts by text. It can then easily be shared with #emergency services, offering peace of mind to both riders and their loved ones!




I'm not sure how many more of these I'm going to post now as I am tiring of folks who just parrot why can't folks just use Google maps or Grid References

 

[Robt]

I’m not keen on it. I hate to bust JP1s bubble here, but it’s a completely proprietary and locked in system. It’s a monopoly in other words.

Not really a good approach (for anyone other than W3W) I think in my humble view for a geolocation system.

From a competing system, but some words of wisdom in there...

what3words - OpenStreetMap Wiki

wiki.openstreetmap.org

I use view ranger and itll give your grid reference. I suppose its a bit old fashioned but is still recognized by every agency.

 

[JP1]

I’m not keen on it. I hate to bust JP1s bubble here, but it’s a completely proprietary and locked in system. It’s a monopoly in other words.

Not really a good approach (for anyone other than W3W) I think in my humble view for a geolocation system.

From a competing system, but some words of wisdom in there...

what3words - OpenStreetMap Wiki

wiki.openstreetmap.org

At least Suffolk Police and others are now using it. Most 999 call handlers (or the motoring public) do not understand the national road network marker post system even though it's been around for 30 years and is the ultimate "open" system ................................................

 

[AGN76]

We were in the middle of nowhere yesterday (Moel Famau) and I checked the W3W app and it found us. I was quite impressed