With good intentions…: the new iPhone calls the police to people on the rides, but they were supposed to help in an accident
iPhone 14 Crash Detection's new collision detection and police alert feature has an unexpected side effect: It dials 911 when the phone's owner is on a rollercoaster ride, reports TheVerge.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, police have repeatedly sent law enforcement officers to amusement parks after they mistook turns and hard braking on an attraction for a real emergency.
On the subject: iPhone with satellite connection and new smartwatches: what new items did Apple introduce at its annual presentation
Last month, Apple introduced Crash Detection to its new iPhone 14, Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra, equipping the devices with a gyroscope sensor and a high acceleration accelerometer trained to withstand the impact experienced in simulated car crashes. If sensors detect that you're in an accident, your iPhone will display an alert and call emergency services if you don't turn it off within 20 seconds.
When it calls law enforcement, it plays an audio message that alerts the authorities that you've been involved in an accident and also tells them your location. An Apple Watch with collision detection can only notify authorities if you have an iPhone or if it's connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.
Well, that's exactly what a few custom Apple devices have done, but at the wrong time. In a tweet, WSJ reporter Joanna Stern shares an example of one of the 14 calls when an iPhone XNUMX owner was on a roller coaster at Kings Island amusement park in Cincinnati. When an automatic message is played, you can hear muffled screams in the background as the rollercoaster races forward. Last month, Stern tested Apple's Crash Detection feature and found it wasn't entirely reliable. While Crash Detection recently helped detect and alert authorities to a fatal accident in Nebraska, the feature clearly has its drawbacks.
Since the iPhone 14 went on sale, the 911 dispatch center near Kings Island amusement park has received at least six phones calls saying:
“The owner of this iPhone was in a severe car crash...”
Except, the owner was just on a roller coaster.
? by me: https://t.co/hp1fHZBIf6 pic.twitter.com/i0lZPoWzGz
- Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) October 9, 2022
Stern says Warren County, where Kings Island is located, has received six emergency ride calls. She also notes that other users have experienced similar issues at amusement parks around the country.
You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.
Taking smartphones with you to the attraction is not the best idea, but the risk of false calls to the emergency services can be another reason to leave the iPhone 14 (and other devices) before entering the attraction. Alternatively, you can put your phone into Airplane Mode, or simply disable the feature entirely.
Read also on ForumDaily:
Just in case: schools in California are handing out drug overdose medicines
Stronger than steel and lighter than plastic: American scientists have created a new material
California residents will be compensated for inflation: you can get up to $1050
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google NewsDo you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.