Google has released another handy emergency feature for Android smartphones, which could help to save lives. The new Emergency Live Video feature is now rolling out in the United States (as well as Germany and Mexico), but not the UK yet.
It allows first responders to request a video feed from the caller’s phone in the event of an emergency. Google says this could provide responders with a look at the location, see any obstacles that might be in the way, or get a sense of the injuries.
If the injured party is unable to make the call, a companion may receive advice from the emergency services, such as providing potentially life-saving CPR.
Here’s how it works, per Google’s blog post: “We designed the feature to be simple and secure, with no setup required. During an emergency call or text, if the responder determines that seeing the scene would be helpful and it’s safe to do so, they can send a request to your device.
“You’ll see a prompt on your screen, and you can choose to start securely sharing your camera’s live video with one tap. The feature is encrypted by default, and you are always in control of whether your video is shared, and can stop sharing instantly at any time.”
Google has been placing greater focus on safety features lately, designed to give users peace of mind should the unfortunate befall them. There’s also car crash, and fall detection features as well as satellite SOS.
Google says it is working with public safety organisations around the world to get the new Emergency Live Video feature up and running in more places.
