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Fall Detection Works, but not in the way I Expected!

jaybar

jaybar

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Dec 11, 2008
2,132
651
Hi

I received a FedEx shipment. Box was heavily taped. i was sitting at the dining table, after breakfast, trying to get the lid open. I must have been aggressively flexing my wrist. All of a sudden, I get an emergency services call on the watch, to inquire about my well being. While this confirmed fall detection, it was not as I imagined it would work. Oh well.
 
I get a false positive from time to time. Always associated with some sudden motion, maybe also a sound. I bent over to pick up the dog’s ceramic water dish and dropped it resulting in a loud noise which set it off. A couple of times while watching football after a good play I clap my hands together over my head and that has set it off.

I don’t mind the occasional false positives as long as it detects when I actually fall and summons help for me.

It first asks if you need help and I tap “I’m OK”.

Then it asks if I fell and I tap “I didn’t fall.” I’m guessing the second question helps Apple train the detection algorithm.
 
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In exciting football games I have learned to just turn mine off as that happens every time I cheer a play. (Un)fortunately as Cowboys fans, there isn’t that much cheering going on!
 
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its good to know that it does work, more or less as expected.

i dont have an apple watch yet. but am interested in getting one.

i do wish that there was a way to set up the preferences for fall detection that it doesn't automatically call an emergency services number. but instead the user would be able to set the number to be called if it detected a fall, such as yr spouse or your child.
 
niji said:
its good to know that it does work, more or less as expected.

i dont have an apple watch yet. but am interested in getting one.

i do wish that there was a way to set up the preferences for fall detection that it doesn't automatically call an emergency services number. but instead the user would be able to set the number to be called if it detected a fall, such as yr spouse or your child.
Click to expand...

It calls both emergency services and your designated contact.
 
jaybar said:
Hi

I received a FedEx shipment. Box was heavily taped. i was sitting at the dining table, after breakfast, trying to get the lid open. I must have been aggressively flexing my wrist. All of a sudden, I get an emergency services call on the watch, to inquire about my well being. While this confirmed fall detection, it was not as I imagined it would work. Oh well.
Click to expand...

How did you think it would work?
 
jaybar said:
Hi

I must have been aggressively flexing my wrist. All of a sudden, I get an emergency services call on the watch, to inquire about my well being
Click to expand...

Aggressively 'flexing' your wrist you say... well, that situation could have been a lot more awkward.

Nevertheless, thanks for the heads up. ;)
 
It’s much more complicated than I had originally thought. I got three more emergency calls during the night and the watch was on my night table just charging.

WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER, I realized the situation was more bizarre then at first I thought. On inspection, all the calls, including the first were from an emergency response unit in Chicago and I am in NYC. I have no idea what is going on. I ended up blocking the call.
 
Last edited:
Solver said:
How many people under 65 years old have manually enabled fall detection?
Click to expand...

What difference can that make? Assuming you have a series 4, and if you feel you might benefit from the feature then just activate it. Activation is a personal choice dictated by fall history or fall likelihood.
 
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jaybar said:
What difference can that make? Assuming you have a series 4, and if you feel you might benefit from the feature then just activate it. Activation is a personal choice dictated by fall history or fall likelihood.
Click to expand...
Only in that the average 65+ year old person would likely have a lot less false positives. Younger people that manually activate this feature should understand that some of their more aggressive activities could create false positives.
 
jaybar said:
It’s much more complicated than I had originally thought. I got three more emergency calls during the night and the watch was on my night table just charging.

WHEN I LOOKED CLOSER, I realized the situation was more bizarre then at first I thought. On inspection, all the calls, including the first were from an emergency response unit in Chicago and I am in NYC. I have no idea what is going on. I ended up blocking the call.
Click to expand...
That is really really weird jaybar! Did you buy your watch from Apple or one of the approved vendors or did it come from eBay or the like, and/or have you ever lived in Chicago? I can’t imagine how that could happen unless it was specifically set up for another location.
 
It was purchased at the Apple store WTC in nyc. They set it up.

How can I check the setup location?

Thanks.
 
This is my first watch so I’m not the person to answer, but on thinking more about this, doesn’t it use your gps position to call 911?

LOL...maybe I should just shut up! I am a newbie, but it seems crazy that this could happen!
[doublepost=1554138049][/doublepost]Despite what I just said about ducking out, are location services enabled on your phone?
 
The response unit called me. I did not dial 911. I could see an accidental call by me in the morning, when I was twisting my wrist to open my package, but when I was sleeping the watch was on the charger and I got three more calls.
 
jaybar said:
The response unit called me. I did not dial 911. I could see an accidental call by me in the morning, when I was twisting my wrist to open my package, but when I was sleeping the watch was on the charger and I got three more calls.
Click to expand...

Do you live near a Catholic Church? Methinks perhaps your watch could benefit from an exorcism....
 
I should clarify. Both the watch and phone called me.
 
Well I slammed my hand on the floor in frustration this morning and I triggered the fall detection.
 
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