Apple Watch Gains 'SOS' Emergency Call Feature With WatchOS 3

[MacRumors]

Today at it's WWDC keynote, Apple announced a brand new feature for watchOS 3 called SOS. The emergency call feature works similar to LifeAlert, allowing a user to easily call emergency services when they need it quickly and easily.

A user just has to press and hold the side button underneath the Digital Crown, and the emergency call will countdown from three. The Watch will then automatically call 911, or the equivalent for the country the user is in. The call will go through the paired iPhone, but it'll also be able to call directly from the Apple Watch if the Watch is on a Wi-Fi network.

SOS will also send your location to your emergency contacts, alerting them that you're in need of help. The Watch itself can also display a user's MedicalID, easily displaying a user's name, age, date-of-birth, medical conditions and other medical information.

Article Link: Apple Watch Gains 'SOS' Emergency Call Feature With WatchOS 3

 

[Z400Racer37]

Could have saved my friend's dad's life... Amazing.

 

[Johnny907]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

 

[AVEGA]

This is a fantastic idea , I wonder how many idiots will cry and call this a junk app . I assume this is not exclusive to watch but iOS 10 update .

Watch this Jon Oliver Segment on 911 and this app will make so much more sense .

 

[jonnysods]

This is pretty amazing.

It could really save a life. Or bring the cops to my house when I'm working out.

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

You are wearing it wrong.

Put it further up your wrist like it says in the instructions that came with it, just a suggestion.....

 

[PabloGS]

You are wearing it wrong.

Put it further up your wrist like it says in the instructions that came with it, just a suggestion.....

I am doing that too, but I also am afraid there will be a lot of false positives!
You wouldn't want to know how many Apple Watch screenshots I delete from my phone or how often Siri awaits my voice command without me intentionally pressing any buttons... Maybe I should flip the buttons away from my ankle?

No, seriously, there better be a way to deactivate this.

Also: How will I power off or put my watch into power reserve mode in the future?

 

[artfossil]

You don't think about needing assistance . . . until you do.

For me, it's living alone in a 1920's cottage with steep basement stairs . . . And having a campus studio in a building that's often deserted after hours or on holidays . . . and having a bad hip (now recoving from hip replacement surgery).

I welcome this app. The ability to communicate in an emergency is one of the reasons I got the Watch.

 

[Iconoclysm]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

You might want to consider changing your watch orientation so that the buttons are on the other side. It's actually easier to use that way.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

You might want to consider changing your watch orientation so that the buttons are on the other side. It's actually easier to use that way.

People shouldn't have to change their watch orientation or how they wear it. Hopefully this feature can be disabled. I have an Apple Watch and I certainly am not going to change how I've been wearing watches for the past 30 years. If this is you guys being sarcastic, okay. But if it's a serious "you're holding it the wrong way" moment, get real.

 

[manu chao]

Also: How will I power off or put my watch into power reserve mode in the future?

When you press down the side button for two (?) seconds, the screen will show three (?) options. The first one is to power off the watch. Once that screen with the options appears you have to keep holding the button for another three (?) seconds to trigger a 911 call. It was shown in the keynote.

 

[DJToneZOne]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

• Screenshots on watchOS 3 can be enabled or disabled from the Apple Watch app on iOS

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

 

[volcanic]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

yes i was mystified at the number of watch face screenshots in my photos stream until i realized I was taking one unintentionally every time I put on my backpack.... glad to hear this will require multiple presses and holds to activate....

 

[Mac2me]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

You accidentally push and Hold for a count of 3 the side button?? Sounds like your watch is too close to your hand for that to happen. I wear mine a bit further up my wrist. Suppose you could change/rotate the watch base so the crown and side button are on the other side away from your wrist if you don't want to disable the screenshot capability.

 

[kenzbud]

And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.

I found that I had the same problem and somebody suggested wearing the watch with the crown on the left side. Every since I did that I almost never take an accidental screen shot.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

You don't think about needing assistance . . . until you do.

For me, it's living alone in a 1920's cottage with steep basement stairs . . . And having a campus studio in a building that's often deserted after hours or on holidays . . . and having a bad hip (now recoving from hip replacement surgery).

I welcome this app. The ability to communicate in an emergency is one of the reasons I got the Watch.

Hope your hip gets better and you're hopping around soon.

 

[73b]

This is really great. But how will I turn my watch off?

 

[tennisproha]

Could have saved my friend's dad's life... Amazing.

I'm sorry for your loss.
[doublepost=1465928486][/doublepost]

This is really great. But how will I turn my watch off?

The macrumors post is incorrect. You hold down the side power button. It brings up 3 options: Power off, something else, and call SOS.

 

[Z400Racer37]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Many thanks.

 

[azing]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I couldn't find an answer using search.

Hoping someone with the beta can tell me if this feature can be turned off? I'm constantly taking accidental screenshots on my watch when I workout etc. and I'd be really worried to accidentally call the emergency services.