Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
It's 2023, and finding someone's location is still a challenge, including for emergency services, who must know precisely where you are for reduced reaction times.
Many people rely on the likes of Google Maps to determine their location and share it with dispatchers, but occasionally, these applications can't provide 100 percent accurate data, such as building numbers and other details, to help the first responders locate you.
This is why the United Kingdom emergency teams and the AA have worked together on a public service announcement that could eventually save your life: install what3words on your phone, so when you call 999 (this is the 911 sibling in the UK), you can provide the operator with very accurate information on your location.
As it turns out, authorities expect over 60 percent of UK adults aged 25-34 to leave on a trip this summer, many of them to an unfamiliar destination. 85 percent of these people will travel by car, and 42 percent said they might have a hard time telling emergency services where they are, given they don't know the location.
This is why what3words is such a valuable tool.
Compared to traditional navigation apps, what3words divides the entire word into a grid made of 3-meter squares. Each of these squares is assigned an address using three random words, so when you enter them in the search box, you'll be pointed precisely to that square.
In other words, someone with a specific address made from the three random words would be able to find your location on the map within a 3-meter radius. Using this method, location accuracy is incredibly improved, as emergency teams can find not only a specific build number or point on the street but also entrances and even locations in a large parking place.
When you dial 999 in the United Kingdom (or 911 in the United States), you can provide the operators with the random address generated by what3words. The dispatcher then sends your exact address to the first responders, so they should be able to arrive at the scene much faster, as they know precisely where you're located. The application is free for both iOS and Android devices and can be used in over 50 languages.
Emergency services in several other countries have also adopted what3words, including the United States, Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, Germany, France, and Austria. As such, when you reach out for help in any of these countries, the operator might ask for your what3words location to determine your location faster and more accurately. The information is then forwarded to the first responders, be they medics, police, or the fire rescue teams, who are already on their way to your address.
This is why the United Kingdom emergency teams and the AA have worked together on a public service announcement that could eventually save your life: install what3words on your phone, so when you call 999 (this is the 911 sibling in the UK), you can provide the operator with very accurate information on your location.
As it turns out, authorities expect over 60 percent of UK adults aged 25-34 to leave on a trip this summer, many of them to an unfamiliar destination. 85 percent of these people will travel by car, and 42 percent said they might have a hard time telling emergency services where they are, given they don't know the location.
This is why what3words is such a valuable tool.
Compared to traditional navigation apps, what3words divides the entire word into a grid made of 3-meter squares. Each of these squares is assigned an address using three random words, so when you enter them in the search box, you'll be pointed precisely to that square.
In other words, someone with a specific address made from the three random words would be able to find your location on the map within a 3-meter radius. Using this method, location accuracy is incredibly improved, as emergency teams can find not only a specific build number or point on the street but also entrances and even locations in a large parking place.
When you dial 999 in the United Kingdom (or 911 in the United States), you can provide the operators with the random address generated by what3words. The dispatcher then sends your exact address to the first responders, so they should be able to arrive at the scene much faster, as they know precisely where you're located. The application is free for both iOS and Android devices and can be used in over 50 languages.
Emergency services in several other countries have also adopted what3words, including the United States, Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, Germany, France, and Austria. As such, when you reach out for help in any of these countries, the operator might ask for your what3words location to determine your location faster and more accurately. The information is then forwarded to the first responders, be they medics, police, or the fire rescue teams, who are already on their way to your address.
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