In a bid to further enhance its technology for saving lives, Apple has recently patented a groundbreaking feature for the Apple Watch designed to prevent drowning incidents, particularly in swimming pools.
With drowning being a significant cause of accidental death, especially among children, Apple's new invention aims to give importance to pool safety by transforming the Apple Watch into a digital pool attendant.
Addressing the Urgent Need for Pool Safety
According to Apple's patent background, drowning claims the lives of over 3,500 people annually in the United States alone, making it the fifth leading cause of accidental death.
With the average person's ability to hold their breath underwater limited to just a few minutes, every second counts in a drowning emergency.
Recognizing this critical issue, Apple has developed a sophisticated safety feature that leverages the capabilities of the Apple Watch to detect and respond to distress signals in real time.
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Introducing the Apple Watch Emergency SOS Feature
The proposed Apple Watch pool alarm system functions as a comprehensive safety solution for all types of swimming pools, including public and private pools, as well as natural freshwater bodies like lakes and ponds.
By utilizing sensor data and advanced algorithms, the Apple Watch can accurately determine whether a user is swimming and assess their behavior in the water.
In the event of irregular behavior indicative of distress, the device automatically sends an alert message to nearby devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to summon assistance.
Enhanced Monitoring and Detection Capabilities
Apple's innovative pool alarm system incorporates a special technology to monitor various swimming metrics, such as limb coordination and swimming style, to identify irregular behavior patterns associated with distress. Additionally, biosignals like heart rate and blood oxygen levels are analyzed to provide further insights into the swimmer's condition.
With reliance on machine learning models, the Apple Watch can accurately classify and predict swimming behavior, ensuring prompt detection of emergencies.
Integration with Existing Pool Safety Systems
The proposed pool alarm system can be seamlessly integrated with existing pool safety measures, including camera surveillance systems, to provide comprehensive coverage and monitoring. This integration enhances the effectiveness of the pool alarm system by combining multiple layers of detection and response mechanisms.
It's interesting to note that Apple regularly unveils impressive patents yet not all of them come to fruition.
As 9to5Mac writes in its report, the Cupertino giant is patenting more stuff than it ever releases in public.
Most probably, this could be included in the watchOS update in the future. Still, there's no guarantee that it will come to life or that it will only stay like any other patent.
Speaking of patent applications, Apple previously teased an Apple Watch sweat measurement. This will tell a person how much water he/she is losing during or after a strenuous activity.
