Comments on: Assuming people are always connected

By: admin

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:19:36 +0000

Thanks for pointing those articles out. This seems like a sensible compromise- a system based on lat/long but also easily memorable- just like a postcode in fact! Not sure about the name though… memories of old atari games come to mind…

Thanks for stopping by!

By: garydubh

garydubh — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:04:04 +0000

Lads,

it’s already been done and in use – see http://www.irishpostcodes.ie. Also see article here: http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=2897&trv=1

and Garmin – largest manufacturer of SatNav’s globally – has been involved!!!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:46:23 +0000

Hey Barry! Welcome!
The piece does actually advocate using GPS coordinates instead of a postcode- the idea being that you could use that for ordering from Amazon or similar. I think it would mean a lot more people being considerably more familiar with technology than they currently are (think teaching your Mum to text), and anything critical to infrastructure that totally relies on a new not-very-well established technology has to be a bad thing.

Thanks for commenting
Jo

By: Barry

Barry — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:47:13 +0000

I doubt anyone would want to use Lat and Long as a postcode (though it would be interesting if you could point on Google maps and email everyone at that location – mad, but sometimes useful, and I’m sure it will happen).

I think the problem with a georeferenced postal system is that you have to divide the country into very small blocks to make it work. In the countryside you can get away with a coarse grid, as the approximate location will pick out the only habitation. In a skyscraper you’ll potentially have hundreds of addresses at the same x and y – maybe you will need a z as well? – adaptive grids?

Whatever, some people will end up with a big number as their postcode, but perhaps you’ll get that with any system?