Hands, face, space... points to this place
THE Hands. Face. Space slogan was coined by the UK Government as a way to promote social distancing and personal hygiene during the coronavirus pandemic.
But perhaps, unbeknown to some people, it also has a connection to North Wales.
It’s been linked to a location just off the coast of Llandudno and could even be the three words that one day might save your life.
The what3words location app has divided the planet into 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares, with each pinpointed location identified by its own own three-word codename.
By downloading the app, you can find out the codenames of North Wales’ most iconic landmarks, your childhood home or even your favourite coffee shop.
The words ‘Hands. Face. Space’ have been linked to a specific location in the sea off the coast of Llandudno.
Initially designed to help ease the organisation of concerts, the potential of these code names was quickly realised for many other purposes – including for navigation and disaster relief.
In the UK it has proved useful for various emergency services, who have used the app to pinpoint the exact location of people needing help.
In the past it has been used successfully by emergency services across the UK to recover a lost child, retrieve a calf stuck in the mud, and find two missing people in a country park.
The three-word code eliminates the old style questioning from call handlers saving valuable time when locating incidents, giving a precise location in places with no addresses or where addresses cover large areas.
Street addresses weren’t designed for 2021. They aren’t accurate enough to specify precise locations, such as building entrances, and don’t exist for parks and many rural areas.
In early 2020, what3words worked with a team of 45 Welsh language consultants from prestigious institutions including the Welsh Language digital media specialist at the Welsh Government, National Library of Wales and the Language Technologies Unit at Bangor University to create what3words addresses in Welsh.
Chris Sheldrick, CEO of what3words said: “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.
“We found the project truly fascinating to work on. Welsh is one of the oldest languages still spoken in Europe, for which modernisation has been a key part of survival.
“Our team of native speakers and language experts come from a community that’s passionate about the language, its rich and varied vocabulary, and its use in technology.”
What3words is already being used by thousands of firms in Wales. It works both on and offline, with the offline functionality making it ideal for use in rural areas that might have a poor internet connection, such as remote nature areas enjoyed by hikers and tourists.
All the app requires to display a what3words address is a GPS signal, with a phone’s location services switched on and a clear line of sight to the sky for a GPS lock. All you need to do is download the app and type in an address. The app will then give you a three-word address you can share with your friends or the emergency services. You can download the app free for iOS or Android or explore via the what3words website.