Enlarge / What3words divides the planet into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each a randomly generated three word address.
What3words
Infotainment systems have come a long way over the last few decades, driven in no small part by consumer demand for in-car navigation. Whether a system is powered by a Jones Live map or a constellation of Global Positioning System satellites, there’s a constant problem: finding an accurate location can be very tedious.
The simplest solution would be to use latitude and longitude coordinates, but most of us are not fluent in latitude and longitude, and even fewer of us know our addresses in those coordinates. This is where what3words comes in. And on Wednesday, the company added Subaru to the list of automakers it works with, alongside Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Lamborghini, Lotus and Mitsubishi.
What3words is a mapping company that looks at navigation differently. It divides the planet into a grid of squares, each measuring 3m x 3m. Each of these squares is given its own identifier made up of three random words – hence the name of the company.
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So, 1 World Trade Center, Ars Technica’s corporate headquarters (as opposed to the one around it), includes the “squares” cycle.rugs.lucky, feel.thigh.bigger, and gifts.spray.ties.
The fact that this large building with a single street address (285 Fulton St.) can have multiple what3words addresses underscores the usefulness of this approach, which is amplified in the case of something like a stadium or industrial park. And because the what3words grid is independent of street addresses, you can use it for parks, hiking trails, or literally anywhere else in the world.
For example, Subaru says that “an adventurous Subaru driver could type ///costumes.plotted.notepad to go to the precise 10-foot square in the Grand Canyon with the best view of the Kaibab Suspension Bridge over the Colorado River or a Subaru Motorsports A fan could use ///cautious.gladiator.bleary to meet up with friends at a spectator spot during the New England Forest Rally and watch rally cars take a breath.”
Subaru says what3words will be integrated into the new Outback.