Eircode - its implemetation (merged)

ukoda

gctest50 wrote: »

Just as well it was Eircode that was implemented.


He wanted yellow signs on everything, thankfully all he can do now is photoshop and rant



https://twitter.com/loc8code/status/846041913958567940


https://twitter.com/loc8code/status/844559910918656001

Will the emergency services take a Loc8code from callers?

plodder

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I was kidding; given some other posters predilection for Loc8 etc.

Which posters?

I don't know why posters keep mentioning loc8 in this thread. It's not relevant.

BonnieSituation

plodder wrote: »

Which posters?

I don't know why posters keep mentioning loc8 in this thread. It's not relevant.

At the very top of this page there's a mention. :P

And then there's yer man from a few pages back who wouldn't give up about it.

Anyway, was just a joke.

gctest50

plodder wrote: »

Which posters?

I don't know why posters keep mentioning loc8 in this thread. It's not relevant.

Truest words ever spoken. It is not relevant.

Thankfully Eircodes were implemented.

BlinkingLights

Or, you could do what they do in Iceland and not bother about having to figure out complicated codes at all.

In case of emergency, fire up the 112 Iceland app and press emergency.

It will try to send by an IP connection, but if you're only in GSM coverage it will send out an SMS to the 112 contact centre that includes your precise GPS location and they will call you back.

If you're travelling in a wilderness area, or mountain climbing, you can intermittently 'check in' so the emergency services know where to look for you if you do go missing. That's something we could actually use here too for mountaineers, hill walkers, people who might have health issues and need to maybe let someone know exactly where they are if they're out doing outdoor activities.

This is a huge issue in Iceland as the population is 98% in Reykjavik and an area the size of Ireland is very spectacular but populated mostly by puffins and comes with some deadly but pretty hazards like glaciers, boiling mud pools and volcanoes ...

The vast majority of people have a smartphone, so it makes absolute sense.
Its not 1997!

No signs, no visible infrastructure, no complicated codes required.

Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.stokkur.savage.android&hl=en

Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/112-iceland/id530144261?mt=8

Windows:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/112-iceland/9nblggh0k02j

I mean, the Irish branch of the AA can do this for roadside breakdown rescue, but the emergency services can't?!

I don't really think using Eircodes, or any kind of postal code for high-stress emergency situations is appropriate. Why not just use the modern technology that we all carry around in our pockets all the time....

ukoda

BlinkingLights wrote: »

Or, you could do what they do in Iceland and not bother about having to figure out complicated codes at all.

In case of emergency, fire up the 112 Iceland app and press emergency.

It will try to send by an IP connection, but if you're only in GSM coverage it will send out an SMS to the 112 contact centre that includes your precise GPS location and they will call you back.

If you're travelling in a wilderness area, or mountain climbing, you can intermittently 'check in' so the emergency services know where to look for you if you do go missing. That's something we could actually use here too for mountaineers, hill walkers, people who might have health issues and need to maybe let someone know exactly where they are if they're out doing outdoor activities.

This is a huge issue in Iceland as the population is 98% in Reykjavik and an area the size of Ireland is very spectacular but populated mostly by puffins and comes with some deadly but pretty hazards like glaciers, boiling mud pools and volcanoes ...

The vast majority of people have a smartphone, so it makes absolute sense.
Its not 1997!

No signs, no visible infrastructure, no complicated codes required.

Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.stokkur.savage.android&hl=en

Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/112-iceland/id530144261?mt=8

Windows:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/112-iceland/9nblggh0k02j

I mean, the Irish branch of the AA can do this for roadside breakdown rescue, but the emergency services can't?!

I don't really think using Eircodes, or any kind of postal code for high-stress emergency situations is appropriate. Why not just use the modern technology that we all carry around in our pockets all the time....

Ive made this point before against the "eircode can't find you in a ditch" argument. But it's simply not needed as a solution

Ireland has its own version of the Iceland model that is even better as it requires no app

http://afloat.ie/safety/rescue/item/27495-new-locateme112-service-helps-locate-emergency-callers-via-smartphone

Alun

ukoda wrote: »

Ive made this point before against the "eircode can't find you in a ditch" argument. But it's simply not needed as a solution

Ireland has its own version of the Iceland model that is even better as it requires no app

http://afloat.ie/safety/rescue/item/27495-new-locateme112-service-helps-locate-emergency-callers-via-smartphone

Mountain Rescue have been using something identical to that for years, it's called SarLoc, developed originally in the UK.

The only snag with it is that although the person to be rescued only requires normal GSM coverage to receive the text with the hyperlink in it, they need a data connection to be able to click on it and return the position to the MRT.

In the Wicklow Mt's at least there are plenty of places without a phone signal at all, let alone a data connection, regardless of what the coverage maps may say.

ukoda

Alun wrote: »

Mountain Rescue have been using something identical to that for years, it's called SarLoc, developed originally in the UK.

The only snag with it is that although the person to be rescued only requires normal GSM coverage to receive the text with the hyperlink in it, they need a data connection to be able to click on it and return the position to the MRT.

In the Wicklow Mt's at least there are plenty of places without a phone signal at all, let alone a data connection, regardless of what the coverage maps may say.

My understanding of the locateme112 service is that it doesn't require a data connection, while the link is used to activate the browser, this is just used to activate the GPS chip (your browser is one of the phones apps that can request your location from the gps chip) and then the co-ordinates are sent via SMS.

BlinkingLights

AFAIK, the Icelandic system will work without any IP connection provided it's downloaded first. You do need an ability to transmit a single SMS though.

Alun

ukoda wrote: »

My understanding of the locateme112 service is that it doesn't require a data connection, while the link is used to activate the browser, this is just used to activate the GPS chip (your browser is one of the phones apps that can request your location from the gps chip) and then the co-ordinates are sent via SMS.

Ah I see, yes, that would make it more useful.

ukoda

Alun wrote: »

Ah I see, yes, that would make it more useful.

Sam Russell

Mod: Can we stick to Eircode - its implementation.

sondagefaux

Sam Russell wrote: »

Mod: Can we stick to Eircode - its implementation.

Eircode is being successfully implemented.

ukoda

sondagefaux wrote: »

Eircode is being successfully implemented.

Well we've certainly come a long way

Does anyone remember the posters on the original thread who were adamant we'd never see it on sat navs / google maps?

sondagefaux

According to Autoadress, two out of the four largest courier companies in Ireland are implementing eircodes in their operations:

ukoda

sondagefaux wrote: »

According to Autoadress, two out of the four largest courier companies in Ireland are implementing eircodes in their operations:

I'm assuming they mean An Post and Nightline? which we already knew about

swoofer

does anyone know what model tom tom has the eircode facility? garmin did try apparently and failed badly.

irishgeo

i been looking for insurance quotes but one of the companies had eircode to find your address.

BowWow

Joe Duffy just offered his eircode over the phone to a seller of illegal cigarettes to aid dilivery. Shows how far we've come...

ukoda

Nightline (users and promoters of eircode) have been bought by UPS, wonder will this impact them using eircode

ukoda

ukoda wrote: »

Nightline (users and promoters of eircode) have been bought by UPS, wonder will this impact them using eircode

Maybe that's why they bought them up, easier to buy it (pre-installed) than to implement it.

ukoda

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Maybe that's why they bought them up, easier to buy it (pre-installed) than to implement it.

It's possible, although UPS already operate here "eircode-less" so I hope they don't port Nightlines business into their eircode-less system

Bray Head

A Circular has just been issued to all public service bodies advising them to get their IT systems set up to use eircode.


All public bodies should store and integrate Eircodes as part of an address whenever it is relevant to the transactions between the Public Service Body (PSB) and their customers. The following apply:- 
i. All new information technology systems and processes currently being developed should include Eircodes in the address field (where an address field is part of the system or process); 
ii. All existing information technology systems and processes currently being upgraded should include Eircodes in the address field (where an address field is part of the system or process); and 
iii. All information technology systems and processes planned for development should include Eircodes in the address field (where an address field is part of the system or process). 

 In conjunction with the aforementioned measures to increase the public service’s Eircode ICT infrastructural capability, public bodies are obliged to consider the following actions in relation to Eircode processing. 
i. Encode active databases containing addresses with Eircodes by matching existing addresses to the correct Eircode. Where matching the correct Eircode is not possible, the relevant Eircodes should be captured through other means in order to ensure all addresses in the active databases have a corresponding Eircode; 
ii. The Eircode field, as part of an address in a database, should be searchable in all Information Technology Systems and processes; 
iii. Incoming Eircodes for a corresponding address should in real-time be validated against the latest Eircode address file and/or database; 
iv. Request an Eircode as part of an address from customers (where an address is required); and 
v. All outgoing correspondence shall include Eircode, where available, as part of the customers address. 

As expected, a step by step adoption, we are now seeing the beginning of the transition from opting in to using postcodes to them being mandatory for all dealings with public service organisations.

Impetus

Deleted User wrote: »

As expected, a step by step adoption, we are now seeing the beginning of the transition from opting in to using postcodes to them being mandatory for all dealings with public service organisations.

Precisely. Eircodes are not postcodes. An Post make little or any use of them. Neither do DHL, Fedex or UPS etc. While one can generally find an eircode on the Irish version of Google maps, few people/companies have them on their letterheadings or websites to enable one to use the code to visit premises.

The eircode is nothing more than a PPSN for buildings. Its design has no regard for peoples' needs. Many (especially dumb idiots) including eircode.ie show
Dublin 2 DO2 XXXX type addresses (tautology and brain dead).

The norm in most countries is to put a postcode before a town name. Which is a standard for automated sorting systems and address format. Most Irish addresses I have seen look like a dog's dinner of postcode variations.

Few people know their eircode. And many of those who do, find it so intrusive (compared with a normal postcode) as to not give it.

Eircode is a system designed to fail, and will be little more than a police state ID device for certain events.

Ireland is left with 50% of houses and other buildings with no postal address - ie number, street/road name, town.

Dysfunctional Irish bureaucracy - a moronic obese (cost-wise and in other ways) blob that gives two fingers to the needs of the citizen, resident, visitor.

The most efficient countries have short mailing standardized mailing addresses and short postcodes, which comply with international norms.

oscarBravo

Impetus wrote: »

Eircode is a system designed to fail...

I'm reminded of those urban legends of Japanese soldiers still fighting WWII in the jungles decades later.

We have Eircodes for almost all our customers, all of which were provided by the customers themselves. We ask every new customer for their Eircode, and fewer than half have to go look it up. The time we've saved not having to call for directions has been a massive benefit to the business.

I almost never get calls from couriers looking for directions anymore. I got a call a couple of weeks ago checking if I was home; I asked him if he knew where he was going and he said "yeah, I've got your Eircode".

But, you carry on with your "designed to fail" narrative. I doubt there's anything that could convince you otherwise.

swampgas

Impetus wrote: »

The eircode is nothing more than a PPSN for buildings.

It's a PPSN which is linked to a location which is computer-retrievable. That's a perfect solution for Ireland considering the number of non-unique addresses and the lack of reliable system of road names and house numbers.

Few people know their eircode. And many of those who do, find it so intrusive (compared with a normal postcode) as to not give it.

Eircode is a system designed to fail, and will be little more than a police state ID device for certain events.

I've only seen this level of paranoia in people living in rural parts of Ireland. It baffles me. There is nothing terrifying about the state having a simple unique identifier for what would otherwise be confusing property addresses. If anything a unique identifier for properties allows the state to function more efficiently.

Ireland is left with 50% of houses and other buildings with no postal address - ie number, street/road name, town.

Which is why eircodes are so useful - they allow us to bypass the postal address completely, so that the eircode alone can be used to identify a property. This is a huge plus point for eircodes given the current state of addressing in Ireland.

The most efficient countries have short mailing standardized mailing addresses and short postcodes, which comply with international norms.

You can be sure that if Germany, Sweden, <insert stereotypically efficient country here> were starting today from where Ireland was a few years back, there is a very good chance they might have come up with something similar.

Eircodes were designed in a world that contains the internet, web servers, satellite imagery, mobile data, and smart phones - expecting Ireland to roll out something similar to systems designed a hundred years ago is really quite perverse.

plodder

swampgas wrote: »

You can be sure that if Germany, Sweden, <insert stereotypically efficient country here> were starting today from where Ireland was a few years back, there is a very good chance they might have come up with something similar.

I doubt that either of those countries would have designed a postcode which uniquely identifies properties. Germans in particular, are obsessive about privacy and the idea that unique identifiers would be floating around potentially uniquely identifying people (in some cases) but masquerading as postcodes, would not wash there. That's not to say that unique property ids aren't useful. Just they wouldn't be calling them postcodes.

plodder

plodder wrote: »

I doubt that either of those countries would have designed a postcode which uniquely identifies properties. Germans in particular, are obsessive about privacy and the idea that unique identifiers would be floating around potentially uniquely identifying people (in some cases) but masquerading as postcodes, would not wash there. That's not to say that unique property ids aren't useful. Just they wouldn't be calling them postcodes.

err...mobile phone numbers are unique and identify you.

plodder

Deleted User wrote: »

err...mobile phone numbers are unique and identify you.

Like I said, there is nothing wrong with unique identifiers - so long as they aren't masquerading as anonymous ones.