Google Pixel Watch’s new fall detection feature has now started rolling out. It detects a hard fall using motion sensors and machine learning, and contacts emergency services if you don’t move or respond within a specified period of time.
The company’s flagship smartwatch received a slew of software updates in December. Fitbit sleep profiles with cute animal comparisons have been added, as well as new tiles. Google indicated at the time that fall detection would be available soon.
Well, the company has stayed true to its word. Unlike Fitbit, which appears to be on a self-destruct mission to remove existing features, Google is working to improve the functionality of its watches.
The Google Pixel Watch’s fall detection feature keeps you safe
Wearable technology has come a long way in the past few years. Fall detection on the Google Pixel Watch is a prime example of how a device on your wrist can be used to protect you.
The functionality is extremely easy to use. You can enable the feature on the Watch Companion app’s Updates page. The other option is to do it directly on the Pixel Watch from the Personal Security page. After enabling the feature, if you take a hard fall and don’t move for about 30 seconds, your watch will vibrate, sound an alarm, and display an on-screen notification to check on you.
If you are unable to respond, the watch will attempt to contact emergency services and play an automated message requesting help from anywhere. To call 911 on a Google Pixel Watch without 4G LTE, your paired phone must be nearby.
Essential reading: top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The Pixel Watch’s fall detection feature is specifically designed to detect real falls while minimizing false alarms. Motion sensors and algorithms can detect a sudden impact as well as your body’s instinctive responses to a fall.
If you’re worried about accidentally triggering an emergency call while exercising, the Google Pixel Watch should be able to handle it. It has been trained to distinguish a hard fall from a slight stumble. According to Google, the feature has been extensively tested against high-energy activities like burpees, jumping, and swimming. It also gives you time to dismiss the notification if it turns out to be a false alarm.
One of several features that protect you
In addition to this fall detection feature, Pixel products have other features to protect you. For example, Pixel phones’ Personal Safety app includes car accident detection and emergency notifications. If you’re in an emergency or feel unsafe, Pixel Watch’s Emergency SOS alerts can contact emergency responders or trusted contacts.
If you turn on fall detection, you also have the option to turn on a setting called “Help improve fall detection,” which allows Google to collect motion sensor data from events detected as falls to improve the feature in the future. You can also turn off fall detection at any time when you no longer need it.
Do you like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and don’t miss a thing!
