Google’s Pixel Watch 5 Can Now Detect Breathing Emergencies
The company is also adding blood pressure and insulin resistance trends as proactive monitoring tools in the Google Health app.
Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 5 alongside its Pixel 11 smartphones, featuring a groundbreaking health technology called Breathing Emergency Detection. This advanced feature, inspired by the previously introduced Loss of Pulse Detection on the Pixel Watch 3, utilizes various sensors such as the PPG, accelerometer, and barometer to identify a persistent decrease in oxygen saturation.
Upon detecting this, the AI-based algorithm running on the device will prompt Emergency Services and share the wearer's location. This feature is not yet FDA-approved and will initially be available in European Union markets. Google emphasizes that it's not intended for individuals with pre-existing respiratory issues and is not a diagnostic or treatment tool.
The Pixel Watch 4 will also receive this feature, alongside improvements in blood pressure and insulin resistance trend tracking, available to users with Fitbit Air, Pixel Watch 3, Watch 4, and Watch 5 devices later this fall. Google has integrated these capabilities under the Health Guardian umbrella, allowing users to easily monitor their health status and receive suggestions for improvement.
While this innovation has garnered attention, health experts such as Daniel Jones of the American Heart Association and Barbara Eichorst of the American Diabetes Association caution that these wrist devices should not replace traditional medical monitoring methods.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
