What 3 Words problems

Patrick

Patrick

Ultralighter
Interesting. I have also wondered about the potential for a minor mispronounciation to cause a major error. Partly because of the sheer number of potential words that you could be saying (compared to ten different words when giving a grid reference) and partly because of the way adjacent squares in the system are unrelated to each other, so an error in any word will throw the location off entirely (compared to a grid reference where errors become less significant as you progress through each group of three or four digits).
 
MikeinDorset

MikeinDorset

Ultralighter
Add in potentially poor phone signal and someone who is very stressed and I can see how it could get just as confusing as talking about grid references.
 
Robin

Robin

Moderator
Staff member
Part of the problem is that some people are going into the hills unprepared and expect MRT to be like the AA. It seemed like W3W was a solution but it could be causing more problems by giving people a false sense of security. No easy solution.
 
Odd Man

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
Does MRT have a SMS number? It would be more reliable for couple of reasons. W3W can integrate into SMS feature and send the message directly from inside the app, thus eliminating the user error. SMS also uses the narrow bandwidth service channel and is a non-realtime service, which means the phone will put the SMS in queue to be sent until there's sufficient signal and sends the SMS out asap.
 
MikeinDorset

MikeinDorset

Ultralighter
The problem is people who are not aware of all this and who don't plan ahead, I understand MRTs will sometimes ask people to download the W3W app during the rescue process.

W3W lets you paste your location into a message, so would it not be easier for MRTs to share their phone number? Perhaps this has also not worked in practice once people are cold and in a pickle on the hill.

I would be interested to see the complete data. We're being given instances of incorrect locations, but what are these as a percentage of instances? I know a single error is unwanted, but it would be interesting to know how many times it's worked well.
 
Nigelp

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
The emergency call handlers are asking people to download W3W. They seem very keen on it despite opts limitations when used in a remote area context. Often the MRT’s are not given the phone number of the person requiring rescue so would like people to also download the OS locate app and carry a map and compass - like in the olden days!

‘Because the details often come to them via emergency services, rather than directly from the person needing help, it is not always possible to phone them back to confirm addresses.‘

"We are finding there are a lot of spelling issues, which might be from when locations are given to the emergency services. Local accents have also been a problem."
 
Nigelp

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
MikeinDorset said:
The problem is people who are not aware of all this and who don't plan ahead, I understand MRTs will sometimes ask people to download the W3W app during the rescue process.

W3W lets you paste your location into a message, so would it not be easier for MRTs to share their phone number? Perhaps this has also not worked in practice once people are cold and in a pickle on the hill.

I would be interested to see the complete data. We're being given instances of incorrect locations, but what are these as a percentage of instances? I know a single error is unwanted, but it would be interesting to know how many times it's worked well.
Click to expand...
W3W are very protective of their app and software!
 
Jim_Parkin

Jim_Parkin

Ultralighter
MikeinDorset said:
Add in potentially poor phone signal and someone who is very stressed and I can see how it could get just as confusing as talking about grid references.
Click to expand...

The examples given by the BBC look to be a feature not a bug.

for example, I'd guess the first was this:

https://w3w.co/jumps.legend.warblers which is the only one in the UK and just below the Old Man of Coniston.

Getting a number transposed in an 8-figure grid reference could give you somewhere plausible, but several kilometres out, which is worse than something that's in the wrong continent.
 
Nigelp

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
Jim_Parkin said:
The examples given by the BBC look to be a feature not a bug.

for example, I'd guess the first was this:

https://w3w.co/jumps.legend.warblers which is the only one in the UK and just below the Old Man of Coniston.

Getting a number transposed in an 8-figure grid reference could give you somewhere plausible, but several kilometres out, which is worse than something that's in the wrong continent.
Click to expand...
6 figures with an OS reference is perfectly adequate; especially with a description. I think the main point made by the MRT’s was that people are taking to the hills only reliant on the their phones.
 
Jim_Parkin

Jim_Parkin

Ultralighter
Nigelp said:
6 figures with an OS reference is perfectly adequate; especially with a description. I think the main point made by the MRT’s was that people are taking to the hills only reliant on the their phones.
Click to expand...

True, but if you are unfamiliar with maps, then I'd guess that you wouldn't realise that 6-figures are OK. Or even that 4-figures would be a start. I guess if I was worried about poor transmission I'd start with a 4-figure grid ref then go to the 6-fig one. So "footpath in SD2898" before going for SD 281 981
 
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