Buzz
When you're at a home or business, sharing your location is simple—just provide an address or a name that can be searched online. However, if you're attempting to meet someone on a specific beach blanket or guide a friend to your exact spot in the woods, the task becomes far more complex.
While latitude and longitude are designed for such purposes, there's a far more intuitive solution: what3words. This system assigns three unique words to every 3-meter-by-3-meter square on the planet. For instance, the global headquarters of What3words in London is located at a spot labeled ///filled.count.soap. In my local area, the place where bird enthusiasts gathered this spring to observe a bald eagle nest is marked as ///threading.thrusters.rulers.
In the UK, emergency services rely on this app: if you're involved in an accident and can't describe your exact location on a road, they'll ask you to download the app and share your three-word code. Although this practice isn't yet standard everywhere, these codes remain a practical way to identify and share precise locations, whether or not they have an official name or address.
The application allows you to input a code and receive directions to that location, making it ideal for locating your vehicle in an expansive airport parking area or meeting a companion at a precise trailhead for a hike. Additionally, you can compile lists of places within the app, such as your preferred fishing locations. A standout feature is its ability to function without an internet connection—relying solely on your phone's GPS.
