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what3words global addressing system launches Welsh language version

15 Apr 2020 3 minute read
What3words

A global addressing system has today announces the launch of a Welsh language version to support the Welsh emergency services.

what3words has divided the entire world into 3m squares and given each square a simple and unique label made of three words: a what3words address. Anyone can find, share and navigate to what3words addresses using the free what3words app or online map at what3words.com.

The company said the technology would improve response times, as well as potentially help thousands of Welsh businesses, and hundreds of thousands of Welsh-speaking people.

Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder and CEO of what3words said: “The Welsh coastline and the valleys and mountains of its national parks are famed for their rural beauty and are popular visitor destinations, particularly for outdoor activities that are off the beaten track.

“But these locations can be hard to find and their Welsh street addresses can be difficult to communicate for non-Welsh speakers, particularly during an emergency. It’s fantastic to see how what3words is helping the Welsh emergency services and we’ve now developed a Welsh language version to make it even more useful for Welsh speakers.”

The Welsh language What3Words addresses of some Welsh landmarks:

  • Caernarfon Castle – adeiladau.tripiau.mwyaren
    The Senedd – dreigiau.blodyn.lwmpyn
    The National Stadium – tyndra.hyfryd.amlen
    Bangor University – ysgwyddau.ymddiried.olympaidd
    Snowdon’s peak – synnu.mebyd-myfyriwn

 

‘Fantastic’

what3words worked with a team of 45 Welsh language consultants from institutions including the Welsh Language Digital Media Specialist at the Welsh Government, National Library of Wales and the Language Technologies Unit at Bangor University in order to create what3words addresses in Welsh for the entire world.

The launch comes as Wales becomes the first country in the world to reach the milestone of 100% of police, ambulance and fire and rescue services* using the technology to respond to 999 callers who provide their what3words address.

In an emergency where a location is difficult to describe, such as a remote hiking trail or country lane, call handlers can ask for the what3words address of the caller’s location, and dispatch help to that precise 3m square.

Along with businesses and emergency services, Neath Port Talbot Council is one of the first local authorities in the UK to use the technology to help residents accurately report the location of incidents such as fly-tipping, potholes or fallen trees.

The app is free to download and works offline, making it ideal for use in rural areas with an unreliable data connection or for discovering places that are far from the beaten track.


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Harri
Harri
3 years ago

Downloaded what3words 9today 15/4/20) – no Welsh option….yet??

Garry
Garry
3 years ago
Reply to  Harri

Same result here, Harri.

Garry
Garry
3 years ago
Reply to  Harri

Update: on the What3Words website select the Welcome Guest drop-down menu (head and torso symbol, top right), then select 3 Word Address drop-down menu (not site language menu). Then select Cymraeg – of course!

rebecca
rebecca
3 years ago
Reply to  Harri

The update is rolling out gradually I think – mine just went live in an update today. Have you checked the Settings menu? Welsh is at the bottom of the list 🙂 (under W rather than C for Cymru)

Morris Dean
Morris Dean
3 years ago

This is a pernicious attempt to capture revenue from Wales’ public sector. It’s free for users but not for organisations wanting to adopt it.

What problem is this really trying to solve? Or is it another efficient way to transfer wealth from Wales?

Morris Dean
Morris Dean
3 years ago
Reply to  Morris Dean

re: the use by local authorities to report local issues, perhaps they should be promoting the excellent fixmystreet…

Ange
Ange
3 years ago
Reply to  Morris Dean

Rydw I cytino gyda chi

Jonesy
Jonesy
3 years ago

Soz but did not u derstznd a word of that. I am stuck up a tree in Ammanford. Is that not vlear enough? What is the point of ssying twrch. Glo. Coffi, how the heck would that help me znd the fire service?

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