What3words
What3words is a free tool which is fantastic and gives everywhere on the planet a SIMPLE address.
In a nutshell, what3 words is an app which you can download to your phone which allows you to define any location easily.
The geniuses behind What3Words have taken the world and divided it into 3m x 3m squares and given each of these squares 3 words.
This unique combination of just 3 words (e.g. table.lamp.spoon) therefore identifies a 3m x 3m square, anywhere on the planet.
This allows you to ditch complicated longitudes & latitudes and simply identify a precise location or address, with just 3 words.
Mapping the World:
Apparently around 75% of the world does not have an address.
The beauty of what3words is that it maps the ENTIRE world. Add to that, that it’s in 8 languages already and that it works offline, not requiring you to have an internet connection and it’s obvious they’ve built something great here.
Now everywhere on the planet has a SIMPLE address.
For example, our office address is vague.navy.hint (look at the words in the red bar). By clicking on them – you can SHARE this pin location via email or social media.
How can this help event planning?
What3words is being used by many businesses. Taxis are using it. Logistics firms are using it. Travel firms are using it. In fact, any company that needs a simple locational tool will find it useful, so it is also perfect for event management companies.
what3words allows events organisers, performers and event-goers to share and find important locations easily. Whether it is pinpointing the actual venue, the designated entrance/exit, the food area, table locations, or where event staff are situated, what3words will come in handy.
More than this, by using what3words, event organisers can identify where a patient requiring medical assistance is located. The user would simply send the 3word link to the event control room and with one click staff would know exactly where to dispatch the response team.
Head over here, if you want to read more on its applications and you will be inspired.
Get started
You also don’t need to be online to access it. The algorithm lives inside the app on your phone and uses a GPS connection to work so even if you are somewhere and cannot get any bars on your phone you can still find where you’re supposed to go.
If you want to find out what three words have been assigned to your venue, your office or even you favourite picnic spot, head over to what3words and type in the address or postcode.
If you’re using the app on your phone, it will also generate the three words for your current location, using GPS.
The app is currently available to download on both iOS and Android devices.