New technologies can sometimes surprise us, even the greatest among us. The Apple Watch from the company with the bitten apple is still making headlines and has enjoyed a huge publicity stunt at recent events.
At the Tribeca Film Festival, famous director Steven Spielberg unexpectedly experienced an involuntary intervention from his Apple Watch. A look back at this incident that brought a smile to your face, and at the features of this smartwatch that can sometimes be both useful and intrusive.
An unexpected alert at the heart of a festival
As he shared his memories and exciting anecdotes about his first film The Sugarland ExpressSteven Spielberg was interrupted by an unusual notification from his Apple Watch. In the middle of a speech, the device detected a fall, although the director was sitting comfortably in an armchair. This alert activated the function of “Fall Detection”designed to contact emergency services in case of need. But what happened and how can this technology sometimes cause misunderstandings?
Spielberg’s watch displayed a notification indicating a potential fall, although the director made no sudden movements. So, amused but vigilant, he decided to remove the watch and place it on the ground so as not to activate the SOS button. The watch, having received no confirmation of safety, began a countdown to call for help.
Luckily, Spielberg quickly retrieved the watch and deactivated the alert before the emergency call was made. This incident certainly brought a smile to the audience’s face, but it also illustrates the importance of understanding the features of our connected devices.
After a false alarm, the Apple Watch actually saved a life
While the Steven Spielberg incident is an amusing example of how technology can go wrong, it’s crucial to remember that these features often have life-saving effects. For example, Travis Chalmers, a Canadian firefighter, was alerted by his watch to a heart abnormality while playing hockey. The watch detected a irregular heartbeatprompting him to seek emergency medical attention, which led to the discovery of a 100% blocked artery.
Smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch, have proven to be true health guardians in many cases, thanks to their ability to detect anomalies in real time and alert users. With so many features, it can be difficult to navigate them all, so here are the most interesting ones that will be of great use to you:
- Sends an alert and contacts emergency services if the user does not respond.
- Alert if atrial fibrillation or abnormal heart rhythm is detected.
- Allows you to quickly contact emergency services if necessary.
