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Apple Researching Methods for Facilitating Emergency Phone Calls

phillipjfry said:
I'd also like to see iPhone querying the status of someone's pacemaker and in the oft chance that things aren't looking so well, auto-dials 911, bam! another life saved
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That kind of thing is inevitable, since pacemakers have wireless data connections these days. Just attach a tiny custom receiver to the dock connector. I bet it happens sooner rather than later! (And a good reason for Apple to allow 3rd-party full background apps! Unless there's a way to send a push notification from the receiver or something.)
 
I really like this idea. Should be very useful for some people in certain situations.

How about a "voice-only" mode for physically-disabled people who can't easily use an iPhone in certain situations or at all? When in voice-only mode calls could be initiated by a keyword without the need to press any buttons. The new 3Gs (finally) has built-in voice dial but you still have to press (and hold) the Home button to activate it which is a huge hurdle for such people. Every smartphone requires a button press like that to activate voice dialing.

Let's say a physically-disabled person falls over in their wheelchair or has to be alone while in bed (which for some constricts arm movements). With an iPhone in voice-only mode such a person need only call out the keyword to bring up the voice prompt then dial a number or say a contact.

I realize this type of thing probably would drain the battery quicker but in most situations the iPhone could be plugged into an electrical outlet or the battery on a power wheelchair while it's in this mode so it doesn't run out of juice.

Such a feature would be a life saver for some people.

-PN
 
this is a great idea. it really should be standard on all phones, though that would entail a lot of engineering by the government emergency response people not to mention the rest of the cell phone industry. so sit back, folks, and watch apple create the new standard for everyone else's benefit . . . of course, apple will patent the idea and therefore get $$ when everyone else rips it off.
 
Ironically, a majority of the times I have had to call 911 from my iPhone, something went wrong and I either couldn't connect or couldn't hear them because my headphone jack was clogged.
 
fabsgwu said:
This is kind of a "if the black box can survive a crash, why don't they build the whole plane out of that" comment, but it would be nice if they would work on the call quality/dropped calls (ehem, with AT&T).

Very interesting stuff, though. It would be good if it also let you roam/search for other networks when emergency calls initiated. I can already hear the "there's an app for that" commercial playing for this, :p
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rules change on 911 calls.

On 911 calls the cell phone will grab the closest tower no matter who owns it and will go to the best signal it can grab.
Hell all phones go into a different mode during a 911 call and I believe the phone output power is even boosted just to make sure everything works. All cell phone activated or not can make 911 calls. The phone does not even require a sim card to make a 911 call.

No carrier is allowed to charge the User for a 911 call and all providers are required to route the call and not pass the charge on. I made a 911 call on my last cell phone once and the phone change its mode to emergency mod
 
Just need to hope that Apple include a "I'm Trapped in the Abandoned Mine Shaft" button and I won't have to rely on that blasted kangaroo any more.
 
savar said:
I hope that Apple won't restrict the use of this IP. However, by not filing a patent, they would be opening themselves up to scam-shops who could try to patent this stuff and then sue every phone company that has a 911 feature.
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Yep - makes sense. Should have thought that through for a few more seconds.
 
Paulyboy said:
I really like this idea. Should be very useful for some people in certain situations.

How about a "voice-only" mode for physically-disabled people who can't easily use an iPhone in certain situations or at all? When in voice-only mode calls could be initiated by a keyword without the need to press any buttons. The new 3Gs (finally) has built-in voice dial but you still have to press (and hold) the Home button to activate it which is a huge hurdle for such people. Every smartphone requires a button press like that to activate voice dialing.

Let's say a physically-disabled person falls over in their wheelchair or has to be alone while in bed (which for some constricts arm movements). With an iPhone in voice-only mode such a person need only call out the keyword to bring up the voice prompt then dial a number or say a contact.

I realize this type of thing probably would drain the battery quicker but in most situations the iPhone could be plugged into an electrical outlet or the battery on a power wheelchair while it's in this mode so it doesn't run out of juice.

Such a feature would be a life saver for some people.

-PN
Click to expand...

No offense, but why would someone who is physically disabled have a touch screen phone? Especially a touch screen where you can't use a stylus attached to say your forehead or something? Seems like very expensive overkill for someone who can't use many or any of the features.
 
Great idea! I would think Apple wouldn't want to keep something like this to themselves though, although I can see the need to patent it as the poster above mentioned. Just share it freely once it's patented :)
 
Good.

I can use this when they make fun of my accent at the McDonalds drive-thru, or when they don't give me the best service possible at TGI Fridays.

is there a "They're making fun of meeeee" function?
 
DSG said:
I know its business, but should stuff like this really be the subject of IP protection? Sounds excellent and the kind of thing that should be on every mobile, rather than being a potential selling point.
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Well, then why hasn't every mobile phone company done it if it's so obvious and simple. Apple is just protecting it's IP. If other phone companies think these needs to be on their phones, then they need to think of their own way to do it and not just copy the way apple does it.

Would you have preferred Apple NOT put their R&D into this tech, but instead wait until the Pre came out with it and then of course just copy the Pre because after all, it's not protected by a patent?

I'm not sure what part of this idea can really be deemed IP and what part is just an idea that has been floating around. But applying for the patent definitely puts a date on when Apple took the idea and ran with it. Even if they don't get the patent.
 
sonnyjames said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A341 Safari/528.16)

This is fabulous to help deaf people make 911 calls until there finally is an ability to text 911.
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What is there to be said? As usual, Apple is simply GENIUS with that idea...it's just incredible how they are able to come up with great refinements even to basic issues like calling emergency numbers...GO APPLE!
 
3 iPhone Users in the Same Car

Pre-Coded 3GS Message: "I'm a 3GS owner, rescue me first."
Pre-Coded 3G Message: "Once the 3GS guy is ok, then check on me."
Pre-Coded original iPhone message: "Feel free to harvest my organs for the 3GS guy."
 
Apple should make a iPod Touch that can call 911. I'd pay an extra $200 for an iPod Touch if it did that. :cool: I'm paranoid about murderers being in my house. It would be a life saver (plus, I'd have peace of mind) if there was that on the iPhone. Heck, that would make me want an iPhone.
 
AngryApple said:
Apple should make a iPod Touch that can call 911. I'd pay an extra $200 for an iPod Touch if it did that. :cool: I'm paranoid about murderers being in my house. It would be a life saver (plus, I'd have peace of mind) if there was that on the iPhone. Heck, that would make me want an iPhone.
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Any contract or non-contract cell phone can call 911. It doesn't need a provider or a plan. They cost a few dollars and some organizations give them away. if you're truly concerned Maybe you should pick one of those up instead or I can get you one if you message me.

Source: worked as a 911 dispatcher.
 
Trivia: what happens when you dial 112 on your iPhone?
Tip: don't do it, but the results will surprise you (if you're not from certain parts of Europe).
 
illicium said:
No offense, but why would someone who is physically disabled have a touch screen phone? Especially a touch screen where you can't use a stylus attached to say your forehead or something? Seems like very expensive overkill for someone who can't use many or any of the features.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily:

VoiceOver lets the phone be used, and the music player.

Third-party apps can do other things (things we haven't even thought of) with voice control.

And custom hardware on the dock connector could allow alternate input (with Apple's OK).
 
Coming Soon from Apple... The Apple LifeMonitor!

Consisting of two small implants, one at the base of the brain and one in your abdomen, the LifeMonitor will monitor vital signs such as breathing rate, heart rate, blood makeup, and more. In the event of a medical emergency, the device can automatically make a basic diagnosis and connect with your iPhone via bluetooth to make an emergency call, and even vocally provide essential vital signs to the 911 operator, automatically!

Other features include:
- Miniature high power battery, allowing the device to act as a defibrillator in the case of heart failure
- Constant blood sugar monitoring for diabetics, no more need to pierce your finger thrice a day, just glace at your iPhone!
- Pregnancy hormone monitoring for sexually active women, providing a precise pregnancy test up to three days sooner than a regular over-the-counter test kit, and instant notification to both you and a chosen significant other when the hormone is detected
- Online statistic reporting with all basic vital functions through your own personal LifeMonitor portal, allowing both you and your doctor to review your health for as long as you've had the implant installed
- Internal connection to one or both ears, allowing you to privately listen to anything your iPhone can play, without headphones!
- Ability to initate a bioelectrical body fat test from your iPhone, allowing you to know your body fat percentage, any time, any where, without those nasty skin folds!
- Lifetime battery, excluding defibrillator use
- Easy, safe, and near painless installation by a registered nurse at your local Apple Store
- Much, much more!!!

Coming soon...
 
That's awesome. These kinds of safety measures are very useful in emergency situations.

I've only had to call 911 once (thankfully), but it was a true life-or-death emergency for the person in front of me. In those situations, you often do some strange or illogical things. For example, I thought I was speaking normally to the 911 operator, but I was actually shouting the entire time (I assume my brain wanted to be extra sure the 911 operator could hear me). So I can easily see how someone could accidentally hang up on 911 without truly meaning to do that. Way to go :apple:.
 
Fluffy Bunny said:
Pre-Coded 3GS Message: "I'm a 3GS owner, rescue me first."
Pre-Coded 3G Message: "Once the 3GS guy is ok, then check on me."
Pre-Coded original iPhone message: "Feel free to harvest my organs for the 3GS guy."
Click to expand...

Hahaha. Like that!
 
There should be an option for a regular emergency call, and then a "Domestic Violence" emergency call. In the case of the Domestic Violence call, the user will not be able to disconnect the call from the iPhone. This way, if the attacker grabs the phone from the victim, the attacker will not be able to disconnect the call.
 

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