Google brings emergency SOS to Wear OS, expands earthquake alerts

What you need to know

During the I/O 2022 keynote, Google announced that Emergency SOS was coming to Wear OS.
This is a feature that is already available in our smartphones, but is coming to smartwatches.
Google also announced that an improved earthquake warning system will be coming to smartphones soon.

Amidst all the hardware announcements during the I/O 2022 keynote, Google also shared some new software features that are coming soon. These latest features surround personal safety, as emergency SOS alerts are coming to the best Wear OS smartwatches.

This is something that is already available on the best Android phones, as it allows you to easily contact a trusted friend, family member or call emergency services from your wrist. Once available, Emergency SOS can be easily activated, with a prompt to select emergency services or your trusted contacts.

(image credits: google)

You’ll also find a large button at the bottom to cancel an ongoing SOS call, a button to end the call, and other options to be displayed once the call is made. As expected, your Wear OS smartwatch must be paired to a phone with a network connection or have built-in cellular connectivity. We totally wouldn’t be surprised if Emergency SOS for Wear OS doesn’t start rolling out until the Pixel Watch is officially released.

Also read: Does Fitbit Have SOS or Emergency Features?

Google also confirmed that earthquake warnings are being expanded to more “high risk” areas. We look forward to knowing more about it in the coming months, but Google didn’t reveal any specifics. Which one? Areas where the facility is coming.

This isn’t a brand new feature, but it uses your phone’s accelerometer, along with regional information, to determine if an earthquake has occurred. From there, you’ll receive a notification on your phone that will then be shared with people around you. The notification will also provide information on how you can stay safe in the event of an earthquake, if possible.

Hopefully, these new features come sooner rather than later, but with Google’s history, it wouldn’t surprise us if it doesn’t arrive for at least a month or two. We’ll hear more as we get closer to launch.