The accident detection function present on the iPhone 14 continues to wreak havoc on the emergency services. Ski resorts are now concerned.
Apple will once again have to rework its accident detection functionality. After confusing a roller coaster with a car accident, the iPhone 14 or the Apple Watch Series 8 seem to attract the wrath of ski resorts.
Several resorts, notably in Utah and Colorado in the United States, have noted an increase in emergency calls from skiers present in these regions. Often useless calls since no accident actually takes place.
An ill-judged ski descent
It is the descent that would indeed pose a problem. Going down a slope on skis would thus be considered by the function as an accident. Several alerts would have been triggered by people simply skiing, who would not have realized that their phone had called the emergency services.
The technology used by Apple for its accident detection system is supposed to notify only car accidents. In the event of a collision, an alarm sounds on the device and the user must react in less than 20 seconds. If there is no response, the phone automatically calls the emergency services and sends the precise GPS coordinates to them.
3 to 5 calls per day
Suzie Butterfield, head of a call center in Utah, told the American media KSL receive 3-5 calls per day from Apple devices. None of the calls were of real urgency.
The manager, however, indicated that the functionality should not be removed, because accidents can however occur, with for example a skier who would run into a tree.
