Emergency Services Partly Overwelmed By New Android Update:Quick Emergency Dial  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 12:18:25 am
content: This story (on today's BBC website), sounds crazy to me. Google have released an Android update, earlier this year. Which creates a new silent emergency call feature, which dials (silently it seems), the emergency services in your country. If you press the power button five times, in succession.I had never heard about that and wonder how many other people don't know about it.Hence it has been blamed for contributing to the UK's too frequent, emergency 999 calls (other countries are affected as well).I say 'crazy'. Because on phones I have sometimes unintentionally activated various (unwanted) features. Because of the built in short-cuts.Source:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65962942QuoteQuoteEdit: Removed spurious twitter section in quote.

author: wofritz
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 08:53:09 am
content: That seems to be a real problem. There was an article in the local newspaper stating that currently about 10 to 20% of emergency calls arriving at the local emergency call center are due to these butt calls. It creates quite some work load for the operators, since they have to call back these calls to check if it is a real emergency or not.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 01:40:42 pm
content: Quote from: wofritz on June 23, 2023, 08:53:09 amThanks. I can't easily understand why such a feature would just be included in some later versions of Google Android, without taking sensible precautions against accidental activations of that mechanism.Just having to press one button 5 times, seems all too easily Accidentally activated. E.g. A pocket, where the slightly sticking out phone button, gets pressed a few times, as you lean down to do something.It just seems so obvious a mistake in Android, I can't easily see how it got implemented in the first place.I.e. It should have some kind of robust checking screen, to confirm calling the emergency services.I suppose Google could argue that in the sudden possibly massive stress of needing to phone the emergency services, a more complicated button combination sequence, could easily be forgotten, in the heat of the moment.So some sort of reasonably robust solution (balance) could be achieved, with minimal or negligible false emergency calls.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 01:47:30 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on June 23, 2023, 01:40:42 pmThe entire point is to make the call without needing that, without even being able to see the phone. Mine can be configured to make a silent call on purpose so others are unaware it's being made, or to give you a very, very loud alarm before it actually connects.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 02:11:50 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on June 23, 2023, 01:47:30 pmSo what you are saying, to give an example. It is late at night, someone is away from home and a very suspicious stranger is approaching them, with what looks like a large weapon in their hand.You don't want them to see your expensive phone, by bringing it out, as they may attempt to steal it from you, and attack you in the process.Also, if they see someone phone for the emergency services, it could provoke them into an angry, possibly violent confrontation, which you want to avoid.On the other hand, the emergency services, are having to struggle with a fair amount of extra 'false-alert' emergency calls, tying up valuable resources.So I guess some kind of sensible solution, needs to be achieved.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 02:37:29 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on June 23, 2023, 02:11:50 pmNo, more like your husband is beating you again and if he knows you're trying to phone for help it'll get worse.And again, it's designed to be triggered without being able to operate the phone normally, which makes the entire suggestion of needing to confirm it on the screen absurd.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 02:54:27 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on June 23, 2023, 02:37:29 pmI see, that makes a lot of sense.I would have thought/hoped such feature(s), are disabled by default. So when a phone genuinely needs to be used in that way, it can be enabled by going to the correct settings screen.But you could also argue, that it may be necessary to unexpectedly need to use such a feature, so disabling it by default, or even disabling it, could be a problem as well.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 05:08:51 pm
content: It addressed a real problem in a not-well-thought-out manner.Butt-dialing is a well-known phenomenon.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 05:11:27 pm
content: So my iPhone has an emergency SOS function that calls my emergency contacts if I press the lock/unlock key five times.After 4-5 "Ass-dials" using this function I've turned it off. My guess is that locking the phone and then putting it away in my pocket might trigger the button a few times. Or perhaps I just press the button without realising with it there, like when walking.I can easily see this Android function causing a headache based on this experience.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2023, 11:20:38 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on June 23, 2023, 02:54:27 pmIt should absolutely be disabled by default or require the user to install an addon, its ridiculous. In some cases you can't easily disable the functionality.Sure you may unexpectedly need to use it, but, who would know what the button sequence is if they never ever set it up to start with?I had this happen in the middle of the night years ago, had to call them back just in case, to let them know it was a false call. It says Android 12 but I'm sure manufacturers had it prior to this:https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/02/18/android-12-adds-emergency-sos-with-five-taps-of-the-power-button/

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2023, 10:50:53 am
content: I saw a bit on the TV about this and they seemed rather vague as they said there was an increase in silent calls and they think it may be due to the Android feature. They won't mention the Apple feature,https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT213225that calls if it believes you have had an accident. I get the feeling it was a reminder for people not to prank call and if they accidentally call to remind people to say I am ok just an accidental call. But as it's gone along the editors have zoned in on the android technology is the scary thing, I am shocked there was no mention of AI. The hot weather means people are out doing stuff and that causes a lot of calls to 999 so they are very busy so these stories come out each year.I would like to see the Data or at least some summary. I wonder how many are the standard accidental calls, and the kids being kids.If you live in the UK it is worth signing up to use the 999 SMS service. Handy for when you are in crap signal zones aka Wales.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2023, 12:40:58 pm
content: Quote from: mendip_discovery on June 24, 2023, 10:50:53 amApple was known for accidentally DDOSing 911 with their well intentioned crash detection feature.https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/10/23547137/apple-iphone-crash-detection-emergency-sos-watch-snowboarding-skiing

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2023, 12:45:22 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on June 23, 2023, 11:20:38 pmIt maybe should even have a regular reminder, perhaps every 2 weeks or monthly, that needs to be clicked to cancel the warning message. Both that this feature has been enabled, and a brief description/reminder as to what it does.I'd be very annoyed, and maybe scared, if I was playing with a phone late at night, trying to find a short cut or something. Then accidental (easily done, in my opinion), pressed the power button (or relevant button in this case), 5 times in succession.Then as a result the Police turn up (or whatever happens, when this silent emergency feature gets activated).Perhaps this feature needs to be done with more settings and/or app like features, e.g. give it an on screen icon. So that it can have extra options, such as OPTIONAL warning messages, and perhaps other optional protection features.The new options could include features to still keep this silent emergency feature fairly discreet, to keep it from prying eyes, if someone else, quickly examines the phone in question. E.g. A wife having troubles with an ex-husband.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2023, 12:58:36 pm
content: Quote from: mendip_discovery on June 24, 2023, 10:50:53 amThanks. I hadn't heard of the '999 SMS service', that sounds interesting.These days (as you seem to be hinting or touching on), these news stories, can be too watered down, and/or the author can be less than a technical expert themselves. So, the articles can end up being very misleading.Also not so common knowledge (I think), is that some (possibly all, via an EU mandate, vaguely remember, not sure if it got passed in the end), recent/new cars. Can/will phone the emergency services in a crash, automatically, for the EU (not sure if it includes the UK, i.e. did the UK follow the same EU laws, in that case).I know it has been an available option for some cars, for a while now.I suppose as AI gets further and further developed. Phones may one day, watch over what is happening, and then automatically phone the emergency services, as and when necessary. I think some existing ones (phones, perhaps iPhone ones), detect falls (presumably via the gyro and accelerometer sensors), and can phone the emergency services, when that happens, already.So, ultimately, when the technologies are well developed, some time in the future. These mechanisms of automatically (or on request), phoning the emergency services, can be a good thing.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2023, 02:57:28 pm
content: How is Google not fined for this?

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2023, 09:34:47 am
content: So overwhelming that 999 isn't fully working today.BBC News - 999 calls: Police and fire services hit by technical glitchhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66012340Quote

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2023, 11:04:38 am
content: Quote from: mendip_discovery on June 25, 2023, 09:34:47 amAs an arm-chair commentator (so to speak), on these forums. I DON'T know what the solution(s) are going to be. But, it has the potential to be a very serious, problem, putting some people at harm and in danger, either way.This encroaches on another relatively modern problem. In the 'old days', it was mainly only necessary to worry and concern oneself with your own country, in such matters.Hence, if you could persuade people at the top of BT and/or senior government to make and implement (mandate) changes. Problems such as these could be sorted out.But these days, some/many things are global (world-wide). E.g. Google and Android updates/releases.Even the president of America, would only be able to influence/legislate Google, as regards North American territories, nowhere else.Hence a different current thread, about issues with Amazon.In general, we don't have world wide (ranging) laws, with a small number of exceptions, such as war crimes.So even if I had solutions (which at this second, I don't, but it looks a fixable problem). I'm not sure how on a world-wide basis, they could be enforced. Short of going to lots of individual countries, the EU and maybe other entities.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2023, 03:42:01 pm
content: Tbh there are failures of the system from time to time. Much like when somone pushes out some error in code it takes a few hours for it to reboot and reset.From what I know 999 cost the NHS/Police etc quite a bit as BT run it.With the mobile phones auto dialling 999, well some will really like the feature but for some it's just another thing to go wrong. I have got to that age were knowing about up up down down wiggle left up activates the camera. The mobile phone added to the number of calls, partly as it gave greater access to it and with the old phones had physical buttons that could easily butt dial 999.I really just think this is just the seasonal message we get to not call incase it's an emergency.

author: MK14
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2023, 04:35:51 pm
content: Quote from: mendip_discovery on June 25, 2023, 03:42:01 pmSorry, I'll be right back, my mouse fell on the floor.Just ringing 999 to get them to solve thatemergency.If they complain it was 'not an emergency again', I'll tell them a long story about the time when 5 much more extreme life or death, emergencies occurred, where I had to call 999, in quick succession this morning. But don't worry, my pet ant is liking all the attention, from this morning.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2023, 05:00:54 pm
content: Quote from: MK14 on June 25, 2023, 04:35:51 pmI have occasional beverage with some paramedics and the tales they give of some of the 999 calls they get just make you feel Idiocracy was a documentary. One call was to collect somone and take them to A&E, they live over the road (200yrds) from the hospital and could have walked in. One winter I was being tasked to do the job of the blood bikes as it was Icy, I got asked to do a 4 hour drive to take some slippers from one hospital to the other. It maybe a free service but there are some that just take the p*ss.