Google has recently announced an important feature for the Pixel Watch 3 called Loss of Pulse Detection. This feature, which was first introduced last August, has now been approved by US regulators and is set to become available next month. Initially, it was launched in various European countries but was waiting for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Today, Google confirmed that they have received the necessary clearance.
Loss of Pulse Detection is designed to detect a serious event where a person’s heart stops beating, which can happen due to various reasons such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, overdose, or poisoning. When the Pixel Watch 3 detects such a scenario, it will prompt the user to confirm if they are okay. This is similar to other safety features on the watch, like Car Crash Detection and Fall Detection.
If the watch does not receive a response or detect any motion from the user, it will automatically call emergency services and share the user’s location along with some context about the situation. This automatic response could potentially save lives in critical circumstances.
The Loss of Pulse Detection feature uses a combination of the Pixel Watch 3’s advanced heart rate monitor, other sensors, and a specially designed AI-based algorithm that has been tested with an extensive amount of data from hundreds of thousands of hours. However, Google has stated that this feature may not catch every instance of lost pulse and is not meant for people with pre-existing heart issues or those who need constant cardiac monitoring. It is also important to note that this feature does not diagnose or treat any medical condition.
To use Loss of Pulse Detection once it is available, users will need to enable it through the Pixel Watch app on their phone by navigating to the Safety & Emergency section. Currently, this feature is already available in 14 European countries, which include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The rollout in the United States is expected to start at the end of March.
In addition to Loss of Pulse Detection, the Pixel Watch 3 also comes with other advanced health features, such as Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications and an ECG app. These features collectively enhance the safety and health monitoring capabilities of the watch, making it an important tool for users who want to keep track of their heart health.
Overall, the Pixel Watch 3 is striving to provide users with cutting-edge technology aimed at improving safety and health awareness in everyday life. With the upcoming launch of Loss of Pulse Detection, users can feel more secure knowing that they have an additional layer of protection right on their wrist.