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app:what3words:encoding_a_geographic_position_for_easy_exchange_and_emergency_cases [2018/10/16 18:37] – uli_lh | app:what3words:encoding_a_geographic_position_for_easy_exchange_and_emergency_cases [2018/10/17 10:01] (current) – removed admin | ||
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- | “what3words” is a service to encode and share geographical positions. Any position on the map can be transformed into a memorable set of words that can be shared by different means, including phone calls, texts (SMS), and email. A very useful and important feature that could save lives! | ||
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- | ====What is it - and what is it good for?==== | ||
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- | There are many situations in which it is necessary or convenient to tell others your geographic position as accurate as possible - for example you are cruising in a group and lost touch, or, much more important, you are cruising by yourself and had an accident far out and need help. | ||
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- | Of course you can give someone your GPS coordinates by call or by text (SMS), by messenger (e.g. WhatsApp) or by email - but remember, how complicated numeric GPS coordinates are, and in a situation of stress it’s quite impossible to do that without the risque of mistakes or misunderstandings. | ||
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- | For that the “what3words” “standard” provides a much easier way to encode a map position - by a simple combination of an unique three (natural) word address which encodes a geografic rectangle of only 3 x 3 meters - accurate enough and worldwide! | ||
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- | ====Can we have an example? | ||
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- | To illustrate I just chose an arbitrary position on a very curvy and small road in German Hunsrück mountains, just to have an example (you may follow it: it’s at the tip of a sharp u-bend - and let’s hope that nobody will have an accident there ever - but IF): | ||
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- | The GPS coordinates are (according to Kurviger) | ||
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- | **50.11301° N 07.36312° E** | ||
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- | Imagine you want to tell that position in an emergency case, perhaps injured, by using a keyboard or even by saying in a call … | ||
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- | But with version 1.2, Kurviger gives additionally the what3words code for this position - it is: | ||
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- | **express sill masses** (in English) | ||
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- | (as what3words code to write you just have to include the 2 dots between: __express.sill.masses__) | ||
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- | or, in German, should work as well | ||
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- | **aufgetaucht beieinander umsetzen** (__aufgetaucht.beieinander.umsetzen__). | ||
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- | (what3words codes of geografic positions are usually leaded by a triple slash (/ / /), but in most cases, as in Kurviger, it is not necessary to add this slashes if you enter the word.word.word code into the search field.) | ||
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- | These only three natural words (words in a natural language) are much easier to remember and to send than GPS coordinates. For example you could send via WhatsApp or you could easily speak them in a phone call. | ||
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- | Everyone who has a compatible app or device can now find your position easily and quickly. | ||
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- | And at least everyone who uses the what3words app on smartphone or opens the what3words map in a browser (have a look: [[https:// | ||
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- | ====How do I get a what3words position code on the road?==== | ||
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- | **a) In Kurviger (internetconnection is necessary): | ||
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- | * press on the position in the map same way as to create a waypoint (even if you are not on a road), | ||
- | * open '' | ||
- | * tap on '' | ||
- | * and in the map the position is shown now with a bubble with the what3words code, | ||
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- | OR | ||
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- | * tap on '' | ||
- | * and in the map you get the postal address including the what3words code. | ||
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- | In BOTH cases | ||
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- | * the what3words code is stored to the clipboard automaticallly, | ||
- | * a tap onto the what3words code bubble or the Address bubble on the map opens the context menu, where with '' | ||
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- | **b) If Kurviger is not installed or no internetconnection is available, use what3words app:** | ||
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- | * tap on the GPS symbol in the upper right corner | ||
- | * what3words code will be shown in the window at the bottom, from where you could | ||
- | * share it in the usual ways your smarttphone offers (e.g. by WhatsApp or text / SMS etc.), | ||
- | * or start navigation (depending on the configuration of the smartphone you decide between Kurviger, GMaps and others) | ||
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- | ====How can a receiver of a what3words code handle the code?==== | ||
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- | The receiver of your what3words position message may now: | ||
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- | **a) in Kurviger:** | ||
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- | * enter the what3words code into the search field of Kurviger, | ||
- | * Kurviger adds the leading “/ / /” by itself and offers a list of matching what3words codes, | ||
- | * so the receiver has just to choose the correct one, | ||
- | * set end to the position and | ||
- | * you will be leaded by navigatrion to the destination. | ||
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- | **b) in what3words app:** | ||
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- | * enter the what3words address into the Search window in what3words app and then | ||
- | * tap on the navigation sign, and | ||
- | * he or she will be offered to be navigated to the position directly by Kurviger (or other navigating apps). | ||
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- | **c) If the what3words code was sent by WhatsApp,** | ||
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- | the receiver gets a WhatsApp message with a OpenStreetMap link, which after a tap opens Kurviger with the position. | ||
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- | **d) If the what3words code was sent by text (SMS) or email, | ||
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- | the receiver can copy the what3words code to any map app he or she uses for showing geografical positions or navigation. | ||
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- | Have a test with “aufgetaucht.beieinander.umsetzen”! ;-) | ||
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- | **(For that it’s also a good advise to push as much people as possible to install the free what3words app!)** | ||
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- | ====What is then the advantage compared to sharing my position by e.g. WhatsApp or GMaps directly? | ||
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- | None ;-) - | ||
- | **as long as** the receiver has WhatsApp or GMaps installed and running; | ||
- | **but if not: then** what3words has the advantage that is works across platforms …, | ||
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- | and **as long as** you have a data connection; | ||
- | **but if not** and you have at least a mobile phone connection, then you could forward the code by talking even to a home phone (Festnetz) (the what3words app only needs a GPS signal, no internet data connection), | ||
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- | or, let’s imagine, in these previous cases you only have a technical problem but no internet or mobile connection is available, and someone stops to support you, you could just tell him the 3 words and he then could continue his way and foward the 3 words as soon as possible to someone else who may come or send technical support to your position. | ||
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- | More information: | ||
- | https:// |