what3words: The app that can save your life

what3words is a smartphone app which gives every 3x3 square metre of the globe a unique three-word code. For example, 10 Downing Street is slurs.this.shark and Wembley Stadium is villa.first.mount.

Its reach is staggering with every single corner of the globe covered and the emergency services have been quick to pick up on its usefulness.

Here’s what you need to know about what3words: The geocoding app is basically a co-ordinates system which has divided the world into 57 trillion 3 metre squares. Each square has a unique, randomly assigned code. Not only could it put an end to unclear addresses and hard to find locations, but the emergency services have hailed it for its ability to potentially save lives.

The scheme has been used successfully in rescues around the country. A link is attached to a recent article about the use and the successes of this app: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-49319760

Members of the public can download the what3words app for free to find, share and navigate to any precise location. The technology can accurately locate a person’s whereabouts, when it is hard to describe. The 3 word addresses are easy to say and share, and are as accurate as GPS coordinates.