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iPhones and Apple Watches Could Detect a Car Crash and Auto-Dial 911 Starting Next Year
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I would like it to report on you when you zoom by me at 20 to 30 mph over the speed limit so that you get a hefty ticket and an impound of your fast-and-furious car on the third offense.
As others have pointed out, this has been a thing for at least a decade - not even very new. Cars place a call via the already connect Bluetooth when they detect a significant crash event (airbag deployment criteria and such).
I would expect the car would be much better placed to detect and assess if the incident warrants the call over the phone.
Wait, what? How did they "anonymously" collect crash data while knowing that 50000 of them included a call to 911? How much data do they actually collect?
So, if Apple "thinks" that the device was in a car crash they logged what numbers got dialed soon afterwards?
And how many "false positives" were there? What numbers did they collect? What did they do with this data? I cannot recall accepting an agreement stating Apple could check what numbers I dial?
TBH this sounds really shady. And I really hope for Apple's sake that they did not collect this data in the EU, that could cost a whole lot of money.
Apple is planning a new feature for the iPhone and Apple Watch that would enable the devices to detect if you are involved in a car crash and automatically dial 911 for emergency services, according to The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler.
Apple plans to launch the "crash detection" feature in 2022, the report claims, citing company documents and people familiar with the matter.
The feature would use iPhone and Apple Watch sensors like the accelerometer to "detect car accidents as they occur" in part by measuring a sudden spike in gravitational force, more commonly known as g-force, on impact.
The report claims that Apple has been testing the feature in the past year by collecting data shared anonymously by iPhone and Apple Watch users, and the devices have apparently already detected more than 10 million suspected vehicle impacts. As with any feature in testing, the report cautions that Apple could choose not to release it.
From the report:The feature sounds similar to Fall Detection on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, which can detect if the wearer has experienced a hard fall and automatically call emergency services unless they indicate that they are okay.
Google already offers a car crash detection feature on some recent Pixel smartphone models.
Article Link: iPhones and Apple Watches Could Detect a Car Crash and Auto-Dial 911 Starting Next Year
Apple is planning a new feature for the iPhone and Apple Watch that would enable the devices to detect if you are involved in a car crash and automatically dial 911 for emergency services, according to The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler.
Apple plans to launch the "crash detection" feature in 2022, the report claims, citing company documents and people familiar with the matter.
The feature would use iPhone and Apple Watch sensors like the accelerometer to "detect car accidents as they occur" in part by measuring a sudden spike in gravitational force, more commonly known as g-force, on impact.
The report claims that Apple has been testing the feature in the past year by collecting data shared anonymously by iPhone and Apple Watch users, and the devices have apparently already detected more than 10 million suspected vehicle impacts. As with any feature in testing, the report cautions that Apple could choose not to release it.
From the report:The feature sounds similar to Fall Detection on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, which can detect if the wearer has experienced a hard fall and automatically call emergency services unless they indicate that they are okay.
Google already offers a car crash detection feature on some recent Pixel smartphone models.
Article Link: iPhones and Apple Watches Could Detect a Car Crash and Auto-Dial 911 Starting Next Year
I hope they have a toggle to turn it off.
Apple is planning a new feature for the iPhone and Apple Watch that would enable the devices to detect if you are involved in a car crash and automatically dial 911 for emergency services, according to The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler.
Apple plans to launch the "crash detection" feature in 2022, the report claims, citing company documents and people familiar with the matter.
The feature would use iPhone and Apple Watch sensors like the accelerometer to "detect car accidents as they occur" in part by measuring a sudden spike in gravitational force, more commonly known as g-force, on impact.
The report claims that Apple has been testing the feature in the past year by collecting data shared anonymously by iPhone and Apple Watch users, and the devices have apparently already detected more than 10 million suspected vehicle impacts. As with any feature in testing, the report cautions that Apple could choose not to release it.
From the report:The feature sounds similar to Fall Detection on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, which can detect if the wearer has experienced a hard fall and automatically call emergency services unless they indicate that they are okay.
Google already offers a car crash detection feature on some recent Pixel smartphone models.
Article Link: iPhones and Apple Watches Could Detect a Car Crash and Auto-Dial 911 Starting Next Year
This may not be that successful. Phone mounts (like those suction cup ones or vent mount ones used when using Nav apps, for example) don't hold the phone securely in a crash. In a passenger side impact crash that totaled the car, the phone went flying through the driver's side (closed) window and smashed to smithereens. We almost couldn't find the phone, and it was destroyed anyway. Fortunately both drivers walked away even though both cars were totaled (probably about 35mph or so). Maybe if you have CarPlay and your phone is in a "secure" place in your car, this calling based on sensors will work. Otherwise, any mounted mobile phone is likely just a projectile that may not survive the impact. This experience was a real eye-opener. The built in service from the auto manufacturer is a better bet. No, I don't work for an auto manufacturer, or any of the related service companies.
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Fair nuff. I am hardly a car expert, so I happily defer to those who know more about that.
Appreciate the response.
An Apple Watch with cell service might suffice in this situation.
While some fairground rides can be pretty extreme and put you under a lot of G-force, the acceleration/de-acceleration is still within safe limits.
(and heck if it's not, maybe iPhones could start warning you about it).
If this happens, surely it has the potential to save lives.
Garmin has had this feature on their watches for years...truthfully, I'm not a fan of it because of it's FP/TP error rate. Out mountain biking, I have triggered the crash detection riding flowy trails that may have a drop at a section...nothing that would resemble a crash.
Many of my friends have also said the same in other sports.
As for the call-center argument, that's just not how they operate. They call centers have software that is smart enough to detect when multiple calls are for a single incident and begin quickly reacting to it so it doesn't impact call quality or service.
Many of my friends have also said the same in other sports.
As for the call-center argument, that's just not how they operate. They call centers have software that is smart enough to detect when multiple calls are for a single incident and begin quickly reacting to it so it doesn't impact call quality or service.
I don't usually wear my watch while skiing and snowboarding but I did a few times last season. As a new snowboarder, I fell quite a few times and it didn't trigger the fall detection. One time it did and I couldn't hang up fast enough. I turned it off right then and there.
It's pretty easy to implement the crash detection. Your phone (and watch) have multiple axis gyroscopes already onboard. All they have to do is track (e.g., time-series) the position from all the axis and watch for a disruption in the signal that is very dynamic (i.e., changing very quickly) and erratic.
The motion isn't perfect and very difficult to model for as each crash is different...I'm sure it's "good enough" for most users, but for those who are involved in more performance related sports/activities (and driving), this is going to be a another nuisance nanny.
The motion isn't perfect and very difficult to model for as each crash is different...I'm sure it's "good enough" for most users, but for those who are involved in more performance related sports/activities (and driving), this is going to be a another nuisance nanny.