Imagine you’re enjoying a refreshing swim and your Apple Watch is monitoring you. A new patent filing suggests that Apple develop technology to detect drowning and send alerts in critical situations.
Apple has consistently introduced security features on its devices, such as fall detection on the Apple Watch and emergency SOS on iPhones. This focus on user well-being is a major selling point for Apple products.
Drowning detection capability
The newly discovered patent details a system that analyzes data from the Apple Watch’s sensors to identify signs of distress during swimming. This can include irregular movements, rapid heart rate changes, and low blood oxygen readings.
If the system detects a drowning situation, Apple Watch can send an SOS signal to nearby iPhones or Apple Watches. This can alert people around you to take action or call emergency services.
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Benefits beyond sinking
The patent suggests that this technology could be helpful in other scenarios as well. For example, if a child wearing an Apple Watch goes into deep water or detects signs of a heart attack while swimming, it can alert caregivers.
Technical Considerations
The patent acknowledges challenges such as underwater signal transmission limitations. Apple proposes using lower frequencies suitable for freshwater environments such as pools or lakes.
A patent does not guarantee a feature
It’s important to remember that filing a patent does not guarantee that the feature will appear in future Apple watches. However, given Apple’s focus on security and the potential benefits, it’s an exciting prospect.
If this technology is implemented, pool and open water safety can be significantly improved. This could encourage more children to wear Apple Watches, a vulnerable demographic to drowning accidents.
The future of Apple Watch security features
Apple’s dedication to user security is clear. This patent filing points to a future where the Apple Watch will become an even more important device for the safety of wearers in a variety of situations.
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Passcode Lock is a numeric code you set to unlock your Apple Watch and access its features. You’ll need to enter this code after unlocking your watch or after it’s been idle for a set amount of time.
Use the Find My app feature on your iPhone to locate your Apple Watch on a map, play a sound to find it nearby, or put it in Lost Mode to remotely lock it and display a message on the screen.