what3words Addresses the World with 57 Trillion 3m Squares

Awesome initiative from what3words via wired:

what3words is a universal addressing system based on a 3mx3m global grid.

Each of the 57 trillion 3mx3m squares in the world has been pre-allocated a fixed & unique 3 word address.

Our geocoder turns geographic coordinates into these 3 word addresses & vice-versa.

As it is an algorithm our solution takes up less than 10MB, small enough to install on almost all smartphones and works across platforms and devices.

what3words is a plug-in for businesses and individuals, via an API, to enhance their own products and services with simple and precise addressing.

Read more and see more from what3words on vimeo


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1 Comment

  1. From the perspective of the developed world, this might seem like a weird idea. If you’ve traveled to third-world countries (or are living in one), though, this makes a lot of sense. I hope they find a valid business model…

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