Based on our standard UK Postcode system , assuming that the item has been correctly addressed in the first place, we can expect to take delivery accurately and with no great delays arising from either package or human Postie getting lost.
On a global basis however it is estimated that 75% of the population, therefore currently around 4 billion people, have no reliable, consistent or adequate address that 1) they can use and 2) by which they can be found.
This may be due to geographical factors such as difficult, remote and poorly accessible locations, having been forced to flee from a home territory or occupying the sprawling shanty towns and makeshift settlements that occupy large areas of cities in some parts of the world.
Those of us under a designated Postcode take for granted that if we make an emergency call, order something on-line or seek to exercise our Rights as Citizens then the simple combination of letters and numbers acts as an important identification tool.
We have at our disposal a vast array of mapping systems with these being based on latitude and longitude. I learnt to navigate through the use of paper maps and co-ordinates but that seems so antiquated and even obsolete in the Internet Age where a multitude of Apps are available at the touch of a keypad or under a voice command to a smartphone.
However not everyone has access to the internet or the technology required to make use of such innovations.
This thinking has led to the emergence of a company called What3Words (W3W) who have challenged traditional coordinates with the use of just three words to accurately pinpoint any position in the world.
W3W have divided the surface of Earth into a grid with each square having a dimension of 3 metres by 3 metres or in Imperial Terms, roughly 100 square feet . This makes for 57 trillion squares with each being alloted a unique three word sequence.
The source dictionary of 40,000 words allows for up to 60 trillion combinations of the three word sequences and so will not ever run out. English is adopted as it is the only language that has the 40,000 words in its vocabulary but of course principal world language versions are an integral part of the project.
It has been proven that humans can easily remember and recall a short combination of words in this style so enabling easy adoption of such a system.
It can be used to identify a front door, a gate, a building or a way-point.
It is not intended to be a substitute for surveying using coordinates but can be used in circumstances where an address , a verbal or written description would normally be given.
Compared to normal conventions the W3W method gives for far more precise plotting.
There is no contextual meaning for the three words for any specific location nor is there any sequential reference, ie your neighbour does not have the same words with minor changes.
However, if you log on to the website mapping resource of W3W at https://map.what3words.com/daring.lion.race and put in some iconic postal addresses there are some interesting connotations which, even where relying on an impassive Algorithm, you might think that a mere mortal may have had an overriding or influencing final decision.
Home of the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, London- slurs.this.shark
The White House, Washington DC -a choice here of with.harp.person or score.latter.loving or my favourite zeal.email.mirror. Randomly generated but so apt for the new President
The Kremlin, Moscow- in the interests of impartiality I chose three- trouser.expect.stitch or
mashing.moving.drips and logic.defended.project
Kim Jong Un Residence- ballparks.landlord.ruling or users.slime.author. These are quite innocuous but await.tacky.javelin is a bit more sobering.
Just out of interest here are a few random ones;
Heathrow Airport, London; - blast.insect.demand
Brighton Pier- riches.slap.spare
Madame Tussauds, London- ants.shaped.gladiators
Area 51- broads.wristwatch.mildly
The Deep Submarinium, Hull, Yorkshire- jolly.smug.riches
Oxford University- crab.game.jazz
The Angel of the North, Gateshead- trendy.awestruck.swooned
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland- energetic.emotional.subway
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