Apple Is Working On ‘Crash Detection’ Feature That Reaches Out In Emergencies
Image via Apple
Previously, Google added a feature to the Pixel 4 in the US, UK, and Australia that detected if a user had been in a car crash, with the smartphone wired to automatically call emergency services for help.
Now, new reports are surfacing indicating that Apple could soon be introducing a similar feature to its devices. According to The Wall Street Journal, the tech giant has plans to debut its crash detection software sometime in 2022 and will roll it out to iPhone and Apple Watch devices so users can stay safe while on the go.
TechRadar posited that Apple’s feature will work similarly to Google’s, with the device’s accelerometer being used to determine if a road accident has occurred. The user will then be prompted to dial emergency services, and should there be no response, the smartphone will phone the emergency hotline.
Insiders with knowledge of the matter shared with The Wall Street Journal that Apple has been collecting anonymous data from its users’ iPhones and Watches to improve the accuracy of its algorithm, as per Engadget.
In total, it has detected over 10 million suspected crashes, with 50,000 of those resulting in a call to emergency services.
Apart from making a call to 911, the new software could possibly enable users to send SOS alerts to chosen contacts, sharing information such as one’s GPS location and important medical information with family and friends, which could aid in search-and-rescue operations.
While Apple has yet to confirm the launch, it’s definitely a logical next step, considering the Apple Watch’s medical alert function. The algorithm could save many more lives, working to dispatch help in a timely fashion to survivors of tragic car accidents.
[via Engadget and TechRadar, cover image via Apple]
Also check out these recent news
