Let’s put ourselves in the situation: you are an American student about to graduate. Your life is normal. Your grades are good, you like to party, and you have a group of friends you make plans with every weekend. You have decided that this time you’re going to explore the swell of San Rafael, an impressive area full of canyons and geographical features. A paradise for hikers.
You learn that there is a particular canyon worth visiting, and since you have been preparing for it for a year, you are in no hurry to start descending towards it. At one point you come across something that looks like a puddle, but turns out to be a deep water-filled pit that you’ve entered and can’t get out of. Your friends try to get you out but it’s not possible. The cold begins to take hold of you and hypothermia sets in. At a time like this, your ability to respond can be vital. And if you have an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 with you, even better. And you will see why.
A feature that arrived with the iPhone 14
What I just told you is what happened to Bridger Woods, who fortunately suffered no harm. His two friends were unable to get him out of the water, in which he had already been for three hours, and there was no cover. Tensions rose but, luckily for everyone, one of the people with him had an iPhone 14. That changed everything, because was able to use the satellite emergency system.
This functionality, already available in USA and does not require any specific update – and which the Civil Guard strongly recommends activating -, allows the user to send a request to the emergency service. You don’t need to have coverage, access to WiFi, or a data network. To do this, it connects to the area’s low-orbit satellite and, after a series of questions, sends your data and your problem so it can help you.
In this case, they dragged him, managed to get him out of the water and started a fire. Bridger Woods’ friend followed the whole process, and Shortly after, a rescue helicopter appeared in the area which left all members of the group safe and sound. Regardless, the important thing is that everyone is okay.
This Apple service was able to save these students from a very dangerous situation: these are the things that change the world for the better. A practical use of technology that has surely appealed to developers. Each of these stories inspires the working group behind this novelty, which was even tested in Burgos, USA, when a road accident triggered the warning on the switchboard. Hopefully However, no one is obliged to use it.
Cover | Edited from an original made by inkknife_2000 for Wikimedia.
An older version of this article was originally published on 04/25/2023.
