[OSM-talk] What3words

[Maarten Deen]

On 2015-11-22 13:34, Colin Smale wrote:
> On 2015-11-22 13:18, Maarten Deen wrote:
> 
> 
>> I also don't understand this:"It's a non-hierarchical system. The
>> problem with latitude and longitude coordinates is that if you make
>> a mistake when writing them down you will be completely lost. But
>> with our system similar sounding words are located very far apart so
>> people don't get lost if you hear it wrong."
>> First, making a mistake in a lat/lon coordinate does not by
>> definition mean you are completely lost. It is when you make a
>> mistake in significant digits (add one degree to the latitude and
>> you're way off) but it isn't when you make a mistake in the
>> non-significant digits (the difference between 51.3456247 and
>> 51.3456248 is mere centimeters).
>> Secondly, if you write a similar sounding word wrong, you are
>> completely off. I mean, they specificaly say "similar sounding words
>> are located very far apart".
>> So if someone tells you nice.place.here and you use nice.place.hear,
>> you are by definition not near your intended location.
> 
> As I understand it, they have avoided homophones like your example.
> The idea of placing similar-sounding words far apart geographically is
> that you would be instantly alerted to an error. If you expect a
> location in North London and it translates to Peru, a bell would ring
> an you would double-check it. But if you the location you hear
> translates to one 1km from what was intended, you might be going round
> in circles for hours trying to find it.

So the three-level address system is at least a four-level address 
system. When saying the location is nice.place.here, you should say the 
location is nice.place.here in London (England, not Canada, 5 
level-address system).

That is exactly the same as with coordinates. Give a coordinate and say 
where it is on the ground. That way you eliminate a lot of errors. So 
the "mistake" factor does not apply.
It is only easier to use, but only if you want to address places that do 
not have proper addresses. Because Amsterdam.Kalverstraat.50 for me is 
just as easy to memorize as nice.place.here.

It seems the only useful application for this scheme is in undeveloped 
countries or very rural areas.

Maarten