Google Pixel Watch 5: algorithm detects respiratory emergencies

Google has created an algorithm capable of detecting when a user has stopped breathing. Its purpose is to protect people during a respiratory emergency when they are no longer able to call the emergency services themselves.

For many consumers, health and wellbeing features are the main attraction of smartwatches, and Google has clearly recognised this. The company has just unveiled its new Google Pixel smartphones alongside the new Pixel Watch 5. Among the announced additions is a feature that could save many lives. Google has designed a new algorithm which uses the sensors in its watches to identify when the wearer is having difficulty breathing. When this happens, the new feature can automatically contact the emergency services as well as the user's emergency contacts.

Google Pixel Watch 5 respiratory emergency detection

“The ‘Respiratory Emergency Detection’ feature uses an advanced AI-based algorithm to analyse signals from your watch’s heart-rate, movement and altitude sensors. To minimise accidental activations, it checks that you are in a state of low physical activity and are not experiencing rapid altitude changes,” Google explains. The company has also introduced exceptions intended to rule out false alerts caused by sleep apnoea.

A feature available in the EU

Whenever the algorithm believes that the user has “stopped breathing”, the watch initially displays a notification. If it is not dismissed, the watch then sounds an alarm for 30 seconds. Should the wearer still fail to respond once this countdown has elapsed, the Pixel Watch places a call, either through the paired smartphone or its LTE connection, to contact the emergency services. During the call, an automated voice explains the situation and transmits location details. Emergency contacts, meanwhile, receive a notification.

** “This type of emergency situation can be managed, but only if someone notices it, intervenes and calls for help. Yet many of these emergencies happen when nobody else is nearby,” ** Google says. This new health feature is optional, meaning it must be enabled, on the Pixel Watch 5 and Pixel Watch 5. Having already received EU approval, it is available in several European countries, including France.

Health Guardian for Pixel Watch and Fitbit Air

Google has also announced a new set of features called Health Guardian for the Pixel Watch and Fitbit Air, designed to track subtle changes in the body. These features will include monitoring trends in insulin resistance, blood-pressure trends, and trends in breathing quality during sleep.