Apple’s next iPhones and Apple Watches could detect car crashes and dial 911 automatically by using a special chip that spots sharp changes in motion
- The next Apple iPhone and Watch could have a feature that detects a car accident and dials 911 automatically
- The ‘crash detection’ feature could be unveiled as soon as next year
- The crashes would be detected using the accelerometer chip, which could see any changes or sharp increases in gravity or a force of impact
Apple may have only announced its latest iPhones and Apple Watches last month, but next year’s versions could have a feature that detects a car accident and dials 911 automatically.
The ‘crash detection’ feature could be unveiled as soon as next year, according to documents seen by The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the news.
The smart devices would have the ability to detect the crashes using the accelerometer chip, which could see any changes or sharp increases in gravity or a force of impact.
Apple has reportedly been testing the feature over the past year, The Journal added.
The next Apple iPhone and Watch could have a feature that detects a car accident and dials 911 automatically
The crashes would be detected using the accelerometer chip, which could see any changes or sharp increases in gravity or a force of impact
Apple has anonymously collected data from both iPhone and Watch users, according to The Wall Street Journal. Its products have already detected over 10 million ‘vehicle impacts,’ with more than 50,000 of them including a call to 911
It has anonymously collected data from both iPhone and Watch users, according to the documents.
The products have already detected over 10 million ‘vehicle impacts,’ with more than 50,000 of them including a call to 911.
The Cupertino, California-based tech giant has used the 911 call data to improve the crash-detection algorithm, The Journal explained, citing the documents.
Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
Fall detection has been available on the Apple Watch since the Series 4, but this advancement would go a step further.
There have been several instances of the fall detection saving people’s lives, including one in March, when a New Hampshire teacher fell through the ice at a pond while ice skating.
As part of iOS 15 operating system, Apple introduced a feature that measures a person’s walking steadiness in the Health app.
As part of iOS 15 operating system, Apple introduced a feature that measures a person’s walking steadiness in the Health app
Users will get notifications if their steadiness is ‘low’ or ‘very low’ and get suggested exercises that can improve walking steadiness.
The Journal added that the timing of the feature could be changed or Apple could scrap it all together.
Google’s Pixel smartphone has a feature that lets users enable car crash detection, but it is not available on all Android phones.
Detecting a car crash would be the latest health and safety feature Apple has added to its devices in recent years.
The Apple Watch Series 6 was the first smartwatch to include a blood oxygen level reader.
It is also working on detecting whether a person is depressed by spotting signs in how a person uses their smartphone.
In 2019, CEO Tim Cook said Apple’s greatest achievement would be ‘about health.’
‘I believe, if you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind?’ it will be about health,’ Cook told CNBC’s Jim Cramer at the time.
WHAT DO ACCELEROMETERS ACTUALLY DO AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Accelerometers (primarily used in smartphones, but also smartwatches) are used to measure acceleration forces.
They can measure or detect sudden changes in movement, from events like an earthquake or even in a medical device to detect movement and sense vibration.
On smartphones, they help change the screen when a person shifts it from portrait mode to landscape and vice versa.
In laptops, they can help protect hard drives from damage, including when it falls suddenly.
For cars, accelerometers are capable of detecting crashes and can help deploying airbags at roughly the same time the crash happens.
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