Ever tried to explain exactly where you are, only to get lost, or had a delivery driver struggle to find your front door? Traditional addresses can be pretty vague, right?
Well, imagine if every single three-meter square on Earth had its own unique, unforgettable address – made up of just three simple words! That’s exactly what “what3words” is, a brilliant UK-born system.
This ingenious system has literally chopped the entire planet, including every corner of the UK, into billions of tiny 3 by 3 meter squares. And each one of those squares has been given a permanent, one-of-a-kind three-word combination. It’s much more precise than a postcode!
It’s super useful for emergencies! If you’re in a remote location, or even just a tricky spot in a city, you can give emergency services your three-word address, and they can pinpoint you exactly. Over 85% of UK emergency services now use it!
But it’s not just for emergencies. Delivery companies like Yodel use it to drop off parcels right at your specific door, not just the general street address. And planning to meet friends? No more “I’m by the big tree, no, the other big tree!” Just share your three words!
You might wonder, why words instead of numbers? Well, words are much easier to remember, say, and share than long, confusing strings of coordinates. Plus, the system cleverly places similar-sounding words far apart to reduce any potential confusion.
It’s easy to use! Just download the free what3words app on your phone or visit their website. You can find your current three-word address, search for any location by street address or postcode, and then share those three words instantly with anyone!
So, “what3words” is revolutionizing how we talk about location in the UK and beyond. It’s making our world a little bit smaller, a lot more precise, and definitely easier to navigate for everyone!