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They say the simplest ideas are the best.
A postcode presently refers to a set number of addresses. It hones the postman down to the last few buildings. (US people .. I think the zip-code works in the same way but I am not sure).
If we added 1 alpha-numeric to the end of each postcode --
people could OPTIONALLY not bother writing on packages the address at all. The postman would know exactly which physical address it is referring to.
Why, by businesses, are we being asked for a postcode then the first line of our address .. rather then simply a 1 character longer postcode that specifies me rather then my neighbour?
Of course whoever really wants to can continue dealing with specific addresses. I'd rather save the hassle and write 8 character postcode and that's it .. stamp on and post!
(?) Where the streets have strange names
http://www.baltimor...mbiamainaug10.story Want to live in Satan Wood Drive? [saker, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Follow That Cellphone
http://www.halfbake..._20that_20cellphone [theircompetitor, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
(?) Related?
http://www.halfbake...Own_20Postal_20Code [Monkfish, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Universal Addresses & Natural Area Codes
http://mlbs.net/demo/introduction.asp Very cool and informative animated presentation accessible by clicking on the Universal Addresses and Natural Area Codes button within the first paragraph of this link. A PopUp window will appear for the presentation on the Natural Area Coding System. Push the PLAY button. System seems to have all the bases contemplated in this idea covered. [jurist, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
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Annotation:
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In the case of US post office boxes, Zip + 4 does in fact specify a single address. For residences it usually narrows it down to you and about 6 to 10 of your neighbors. |
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In the UK, the postcode was extended with two alphanumeric characters about 8 or so years ago. These characters, called the 'delivery point suffix', are used in conjunction with the postcode to uniquely identify every delivery point (including different flats/apartments at the same address). |
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In case any brits are wondering why they haven't seen these characters, they only appear in barcoded mail. |
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Add an additional "S" or "F" to indicate whether you want it delivered to the side door or front door. |
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[phundug], I laughed out loud: nice one. |
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This'd maybe make it easier on the old postie, but it would detract from the address the elegance or wonderful absurdity of some street names <link>. Also, some people like their street names - often they're regarded as having prestige because they live in a "posh" area. |
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I like that there is redundancy built into the current system. But then, you do say it's only optional. |
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Another issue. Say my code is 1234567, and my neighbor is 1234568. If I subdivide my lot will my new second house be 1234567.5? |
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Living in a brand new development, I have the opposite problem. No one knows the address and it doesn't come up on Mapquest, etc. |
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Deliveries are a big problem. |
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I have a different take on this whole topic. The thing that identifies your address is the Geo code (latitude and longitude of your address). The address is one of the ways to get there. The geocode information is what the GPS satellite provides to your GPS system. This code is very unique to your mail box. It is even different for your front door. A combination of this Geo code and elevation will give a unique address. The map generation companies generally can locate an address using this Geo Code. The elevation will tell which floor you live on. |
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You can still have an address like the Street, Apt and City etc. But this is just a description for your Geocode+elevation. |
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Now I'm tempted to write longitude and latitude on an envelope and mail it, just to see how the post office would handle it. |
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The post offices will be equiped to translate the Lng/Lat to a street address. You could still write the address on the envelope. |
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Currently, the Zip Code or Zip+4 is not required for the postman to deliver your mail. It just makes the Job easier. |
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//You could still write the address on the envelope.//
That wouldn't make my experiment very interesting. |
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rather then using geocode you could just use phone |
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All I have is a cell phone, and am getting a VoIP (can be moved anywhere there is an internet connection). Will the postal worker have to find me? |
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Downstairs from your boss's monkey? |
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Worldgineer: yes, see link |
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(picturing postal truck chasing me through city streets on my way on a driving vacation to give me junk mail) Heh. Sounds like an expensive service. |
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yes, [worldgineer], and getting served would have a whole new meaning as well :) |
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Imagine the new meaning for DesRes. Living at 0-0'-00.0''N, 0-0'-00.0''E, for example. Strange places might suddenly become populated. |
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Hmmmm... I think this is already the case. I know I've put 71/SG6 3JP as the return address on packages, and it's also the way they mark bikes to link them to just one house. Also, I've had people write to me just using the house number and postcode as above. |
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Incidentally I don't live there anymore, before you all start writing me postcards... |
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I once got a postcard from my sister
who just put: |
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<my name>
<building name>
Singapore |
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And I got it. Kinda makes one feel like
Santa. |
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// 53409N6547S321009375
OK. Where am I? // |
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Daytona Beach, FL... or somewhere in northern Mongolia. |
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//Daytona Beach, FL... or somewhere in northern Mongolia// |
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Now I have to move again... <packs up khurims and del> |
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I miss (the comments from) this idea. I'd really like to see addresses in GPS codes. Though it does make you appreciate the human factor of the pre-digital world. 487 1st Ave S, Seattle WA USA is so much easier to remember than 47.598418, -22.334223. |
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[IT] I was thinking along those very lines; that email addresses should be usable instead of postal addresses and the correct current postal address retrieved by querying the mail server. Companies could just put down their domain name (or subdomain for a branch office) and sort their internal mail themselves. |
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