[toss1]

What3Words is a horrible idea.

It's primary use is as a rent extraction device for its owners, if they can gain sufficient market share.

It is utterly useless without their app, uses a non-universal language (English vs math) and provides zero information about geography. The 3-word identification strings provide not the slightest clue whether two identified points are corners of the same building or literally on opposite sides of the planet (vs LatLong making it obvious that e.g., 42.36N 71.31W is relatively near 41.92N 71.48W).

It provides zero value to anyone trying to actually navigate, without using their app, and if you are going to navigate with an app, why not use any implementation of OpenStreetMap, or even the nearly ubiquitous Google or Apple maps? Hell, we're even better off with old paper postal maps than this scheme.

A slight about of temporary convenience for innumerate people is no good reason to implement a rent-extractive proprietary system.

[procrastitron]

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment.

In contrast, Google’s plus codes(https://plus.codes/) provide the same functionality but avoid the most of the pitfalls you mention.

If you wanted to encode the same data using words instead of alphanumeric characters (which is a debatable goal), then you could just combine it with WCodes (https://wcodes.org/)

[toss1]

Yes, just the general about page for the Google Open-Sourced Plus codes makes clear that they have thought of and solved at least a half dozen major issues ignored by the What3 group.

Just check the topics: Free, Accessible Offline, Easy to Use, Non-Exclusive, Independent of Borders, Identifiable, Works in Unmapped Places, Variable Precision, Useful of Navigation (e.g.,nearby places have similar codes). . .

[juped]

Plus codes are also unencumbered. Their main disadvantage is being saddled, branding-wise, to the Google Plus fiasco.

[maxerickson]

They publish word lists for other languages.

https://support.what3words.com/en/articles/2212864-how-many-...

I don't think it is a particularly good idea, but insisting people use English isn't something they are doing.

[toss1]

Great -- so now we also have a translation issue! </sarc>

Nice that they're making a nod to avoiding language hegemony

However, the numerals used in LatLong navigation are about as universal as a language gets, requiring no translation in written communications, and are among the first words learned in second languages. In contrast, the three random words can fall subject to all kinds of translation issues whenever crossing a language barrier.

Makes me realize that we'd need not only their app, but also their official translation table; makes it seem even more like a fractally bad idea.

[realusername]

I commented last time on W3W coverage for French but it's beyond useless, they use very obscure words 90+% of native speakers have never heard of and you would need a dictionary even for well known addresses in Paris.

[tomlong]

I don't like the nature of it.

I went out walking and wild camping for a few days recently, in areas of not much signal. I usually check in with family as I move about when I do these things, with location and updated plans, and I was surprised that my brother recommended it to me. He said it's becoming quite popular in search and rescue applications.

As it goes I did what I normally do an just pin my location on WhatsApp when I get a bit of signal, but in the right (wrong) circumstances I could see it being a good way to quickly convey location.

I can also see numerous issues with it.

But it made me think maybe there are applications, beyond navigation where it might be useful.

I'll keep an eye on this project anyway, I hope it survives.