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3-word addresses for anywhere in the world

what3words has divided the world’s surface into 57 trillion geolocation addresses, which all have unique triple word identifiers.

A large proportion of the world’s population don’t have access to a recognized delivery address, which makes navigating deliveries problematic. Now what3words have developed an internationally recognizable delivery system for any location, by dividing the entire world’s surface into 57 trillion three-by-three metre squares.

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The team created an algorithm to generate a unique three-word code that identifies each grid, so that users could send an package to, for example, “teaspoon.trustful.acting”. The software can integrate with existing APIs and co-ordinate based address systems. What3words suggests that their product could help post aid packages to war torn regions (for which they may offer free support), assist revelers in navigating a festival site, or simply provide accurate deliveries for those without a recognized address.

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With the imminent arrival of autonomous delivery systems, could what3words’s software make drone delivery available anywhere, anytime?