Phone use (again )

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GTR1400MAN
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby GTR1400MAN » Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:23 am

Horse wrote:What3Words :) https://what3words.com/daring.lion.race

More accurate than satnav or postcodes.

More accurate?

If you have GPS signal what is more accurate than the actual co-ordinates?

I've seen this app and the 3 words lookup advertised all over the place, even to the point of using it to advertise your business address. King's/Emporer's New Clothes. We already have addresses for non-GPS wold and co-ordinates (long established in the mapping world).
Mike Roberts - Now riding a Triumph Explorer XRT. My username comes from my 50K miles on a Kawasaki 1400GTR, after many years on Hondas of various shapes and styles. - https://tinyurl.com/mikerobertsonyoutube

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Horse
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby Horse » Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:53 am

GTR1400MAN wrote:
Horse wrote:What3Words :) https://what3words.com/daring.lion.race

More accurate than satnav or postcodes.

More accurate?

If you have GPS signal what is more accurate than the actual co-ordinates?


From talking to a colleague about his work, GPS we have access to is not accurate. I have had three identical GPS units side-by-side, with one of them giving a different (11m IIRC) reading.

However, even if the W3W and GPS display are using the same source information, the difference is in usability. A GPS system might show your location on a map - but if that map is a featureless field, how do you describe any further. Well, you might have a system that gives you OS co-ordinates. Great, how accurate are they? Next, try remembering that string of numbers while you're on the phone - three words is a lot easier ot remember or even write down and read back.

Postcodes? You're having a laugh. I live in a nice urban area, but the postcode only has the accuracy of a dozen or more houses. W3W will tell someone which room I'm in! It does have limitations, AFAIK it can't tell which floor you're on in a multi-storey block :)
Your 'standard' is how you drive alone, not how you drive during a test.

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dvenman
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby dvenman » Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:11 am

Horse wrote:AFAIK it can't tell which floor you're on in a multi-storey block :)


Stand in the indicated ground floor room and look up ?

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Horse
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby Horse » Fri Nov 01, 2019 10:53 am

AAMOI, OS locate gives me a two letter & six number location.

https://support.landmark.co.uk/hc/en-gb ... Conversion says: 6 numbers are accurate to a 100m square

Using Google maps (zoomed in as close as it will go) shows me sat at the front wall of the house (I'm about 3m in). I decided to walk to the back room of the house. Nope, still in the front room. Walk to the window of the front room and . . . whoops, I'm outside, half way down the side alley. Playing with W3W gives a certain amount of indecision - but it could be that I'm on the 'border' of the square. I'm also losing enthusiasm.

Still, however, you look at it, claimed 9m, real (from my experience) 11m or not, they're still more accurate than claimed 100m. And if you're in a field, or along a little lane, footpath or track, good luck with getting GPS to give you a usable name for it. Right now, Filly is out going for the proverbial tramp in the woods. SSI or not, I doubt a post code is much use there!
Your 'standard' is how you drive alone, not how you drive during a test.

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GTR1400MAN
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby GTR1400MAN » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:24 pm

Where do you think 3 words gets your position from? Your phone's GPS system! Just because Google Maps doesn't resolve to lower level your GPS does.

There's no need to remember or write down co-ordinates. An alternative, with no 3rd party proprietary, would be for the phone to text the actual co-ordinates or read them out over the phone line.

3 words is here and making ground. I can't see it remaining free for ever.
Mike Roberts - Now riding a Triumph Explorer XRT. My username comes from my 50K miles on a Kawasaki 1400GTR, after many years on Hondas of various shapes and styles. - https://tinyurl.com/mikerobertsonyoutube

crr003
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby crr003 » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:26 pm

Horse wrote:AAMOI, OS locate gives me a two letter & six number location.

https://support.landmark.co.uk/hc/en-gb ... Conversion says: 6 numbers are accurate to a 100m square

Using Google maps (zoomed in as close as it will go) shows me sat at the front wall of the house (I'm about 3m in). I decided to walk to the back room of the house. Nope, still in the front room. Walk to the window of the front room and . . . whoops, I'm outside, half way down the side alley. Playing with W3W gives a certain amount of indecision - but it could be that I'm on the 'border' of the square. I'm also losing enthusiasm.

Still, however, you look at it, claimed 9m, real (from my experience) 11m or not, they're still more accurate than claimed 100m. And if you're in a field, or along a little lane, footpath or track, good luck with getting GPS to give you a usable name for it. Right now, Filly is out going for the proverbial tramp in the woods. SSI or not, I doubt a post code is much use there!

You can go to 8 or 10 digits but then accuracy v. precision comes in. Not sure I'd be able to get the Romer out and perform adequately under duress.
This is a handy little app for those who subscribe to Apple devices: "GPS OS Grid Reference"
I'd agree that simplicity/ease of use is crucial to be a benefit.

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Horse
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby Horse » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:46 pm

OS Locate is a free Android app.

FWIW, on the main screen of my phone I have:
The AA
OS Locate
Save a life (defib locations)
St John
Google maps
Torch
Camera
CitizenAid
Your 'standard' is how you drive alone, not how you drive during a test.

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GTR1400MAN
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby GTR1400MAN » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:49 pm

This article and the debate/info in the comments is an interesting read.

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/03/why-bother-with-what-three-words/
Mike Roberts - Now riding a Triumph Explorer XRT. My username comes from my 50K miles on a Kawasaki 1400GTR, after many years on Hondas of various shapes and styles. - https://tinyurl.com/mikerobertsonyoutube

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Horse
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby Horse » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:50 pm

GTR1400MAN wrote:Where do you think 3 words gets your position from? Your phone's GPS system! Just because Google Maps doesn't resolve to lower level your GPS does.


See earlier post:

Horse wrote: even if the W3W and GPS display are using the same source information, the difference is in usability
Your 'standard' is how you drive alone, not how you drive during a test.

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Horse
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Re: Phone use (again )

Postby Horse » Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:56 pm

GTR1400MAN wrote:This article and the debate/info in the comments is an interesting read.

https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2019/03/why-bother-with-what-three-words/


Very interesting. Effectively, are they following the Google example: set everyone's expectation as 'free', then profit from people being invested?
Your 'standard' is how you drive alone, not how you drive during a test.


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