Apple is reportedly working on a new safety feature that will allow iPhones and Apple Watches to detect a crash incident and automatically call the 911 helpline for emergency medical assistance. The two device categories already come armed with a bunch of safety features. For example, long-pressing the volume and side button on an iPhone starts an emergency SOS call, and users can do the same on the Apple Watch by holding the side button to pull the SOS call screen.
Going a step further, Apple added a fall detection feature to the Apple Watch that senses when users have experienced a hard fall. In such a scenario, it sounds an alarm and allows users to quickly call for emergency help with a one-tap SOS call prompt on the screen. However, if it detects that the user is unable to move for more than a minute, an automatic emergency call is made to call for help. Moreover, setting up a Medical ID allows first responders to quickly check users’ medical history for conditions like allergy and view emergency contacts without unlocking the victim's Apple device.
Apple is now planning to further enhance the safety feature repertoire of its gadgets moving forward. As per a report by The Wall Street Journal, Apple is planning to bring a new crash detection feature to the iPhone and Apple Watch as early as next year. The feature will allow these devices to automatically detect incidents like a car crash and automatically call the 911 emergency number. For the feature to work, Apple will rely on sensors, mainly the accelerometer, by looking for a sudden change in the gravitational force (or ‘g’ force) value recorded by the Apple Watch or an iPhone. The feature is expected to arrive next year, but plans could also change, and Apple might choose to nix it, just like it pulled the plug on the AirPower charging mat.
The company has reportedly been testing the crash detection feature for a year, a process involving anonymously collecting data from iPhone and Apple Watch users. The report — which cites internal documents and people familiar with the latest developments — mentions that Apple has already detected over 10 million instances of “suspected vehicle impacts” using the new feature currently in development. And out of those 10 million incidents, the devices involved are said to have made over 50,000 emergency calls to the 911 helpline. Just over a month ago, another report mentioned that Apple is working on a new feature that will help identify depression, cognitive decline, and other medical conditions via readings collected from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.
However, it is unclear exactly how iPhone or Apple Watch owners have been sharing data with Apple to test its crash detection feature, whether it’s a closed beta test or if it’s limited to participants from a medical or research institution. For the unaware, Google has already been offering a car crash detection feature on its Pixel phones that can be enabled using the in-house Personal Safety app. There is no official word from Apple about the aforementioned feature’s testing, but it does sound promising. Additionally, the company is reportedly experimenting with more health-centric tricks for the Apple Watch, such as blood pressure tracking and sleep apnea detection, among others.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
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