Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Bonnaroo account on Instagram
In theory, Apple's Crash Detection feature is a life-saving piece of technology. The system has already demonstrated its capabilities on multiple occasions, helping alert the emergency teams of critical accidents the wearer was involved in.
But on the other hand, it's not a secret that Crash Detection is also a double-edged sword. Due to the way it works, relying on internal sensors to determine the likelihood of a crash, Crash Detection ends up being activated in the most unusual moments without the owner even being aware of the whole thing.
The Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee, turned into a Crash Detection fiasco for the local authorities, as the Apple Watch on the wrist of festivalgoers ended up dialing 911 over and over again.
As it turns out, it was all caused by how people danced and moved their hands. The smartwatch detected the sudden gestures as possible crashes, eventually dialing 911 to ask for help. Because of the loud music, the Apple Watch owners couldn’t hear the watch asking for input or feel the vibration feedback, with the device eventually initiating a 911 call.
Scott LeDuc, director of the Coffee County 911 Communication Center, says the number of 911 calls was unexpected, so the local emergency teams contacted Apple to discuss their options. The iPhone maker even wanted to send its own engineers to the festival to work together with the first responders on addressing the floor of false 911 calls, but a decision was eventually made on the phone.
The Manchester Police Department eventually took to Twitter to ask Apple Watch owners going to the festival to disable the Crash Detect system altogether until the event comes to an end. This idea alone produced a substantial decrease in the number of false calls.
Crash Detection works by analyzing readings from the smartwatch's sensors, including the accelerometer and the gyroscope, to determine a potential crash. The device then asks the owner for input, trying to reduce the likelihood of an accidental call to emergency services. If no response is given, the smartwatch dials the local emergency phone number and provides the first responders with location information, such as your current coordinates.
Police authorities in several regions previously recommended Apple Watch owners to avoid hanging up on an accidental 911 call initiated by the smartwatch. The best thing to do if this happens is to stay on the line and tell the operator that the smartwatch triggered the call. Otherwise, the 911 operator would try to reach back to you without knowing if the original call was started because of a real emergency.
Crash Detection is available only on the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE.
The Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee, turned into a Crash Detection fiasco for the local authorities, as the Apple Watch on the wrist of festivalgoers ended up dialing 911 over and over again.
As it turns out, it was all caused by how people danced and moved their hands. The smartwatch detected the sudden gestures as possible crashes, eventually dialing 911 to ask for help. Because of the loud music, the Apple Watch owners couldn’t hear the watch asking for input or feel the vibration feedback, with the device eventually initiating a 911 call.
Scott LeDuc, director of the Coffee County 911 Communication Center, says the number of 911 calls was unexpected, so the local emergency teams contacted Apple to discuss their options. The iPhone maker even wanted to send its own engineers to the festival to work together with the first responders on addressing the floor of false 911 calls, but a decision was eventually made on the phone.
The Manchester Police Department eventually took to Twitter to ask Apple Watch owners going to the festival to disable the Crash Detect system altogether until the event comes to an end. This idea alone produced a substantial decrease in the number of false calls.
Crash Detection works by analyzing readings from the smartwatch's sensors, including the accelerometer and the gyroscope, to determine a potential crash. The device then asks the owner for input, trying to reduce the likelihood of an accidental call to emergency services. If no response is given, the smartwatch dials the local emergency phone number and provides the first responders with location information, such as your current coordinates.
Police authorities in several regions previously recommended Apple Watch owners to avoid hanging up on an accidental 911 call initiated by the smartwatch. The best thing to do if this happens is to stay on the line and tell the operator that the smartwatch triggered the call. Otherwise, the 911 operator would try to reach back to you without knowing if the original call was started because of a real emergency.
Crash Detection is available only on the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE.
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