With thousands lining the streets to watch the Marathon on Sunday, this year organisers are encouraging spectators to download the free what3words app to locate the best viewing areas and easily find friends and family among the crowds.
In particular, this year the TCS London Marathon is using the tech to pinpoint the exact location of accessible viewing points. Street addresses aren’t always accurate or specific enough to find people in a large crowd, and are of little use when you’re trying to find friends along the barriers, or runners after the race.
what3words provides a very simple way to communicate precise location. It has divided the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, and given each square a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. Now every park bench, wheelchair ramp, parking space and tucked away side passage has its own what3words address. For example, ///native.ground.metals will take you precisely to the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) marathon cheer-zone in Canary Wharf. what3words is free to download on iOS and Android, or via the online map.
