Pixel Watch 3 Is Getting Loss Of Pulse Detection In The US — Here’s What You Need To Know
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When the Pixel Watch 3 launched last year, one of Google’s selling points for the new watch over the previous generation was a feature what could detect if the wearer’s heart stopped beating and automatically call for help. Loss of Pulse Detection wasn’t available at launch, and came to Pixel Watch 3 in some markets shortly after — but it’s been notably absent in the United States for months. This week, though, Loss of Pulse Detection is finally rolling out in the US. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Loss of Pulse Detection?
Loss of Pulse Detection is a Pixel Watch 3 feature that can call for help if your wearable fails to detect a pulse while still on your wrist. If that happens, it kicks off a process that tries to get you medical attention automatically.
Google acknowledges that “Loss of Pulse Detection won’t detect every loss of pulse event,” and of course, a call for medical attention placed a minute or so after your heart stops might not be successful anyway. But if Loss of Pulse Detection works as intended for any users, it’s an essential feature.
How does Loss of Pulse Detection work?
Source: GApps Flags & Leaks
When a Pixel Watch 3 with Loss of Pulse Detection enabled no longer detects its wearer’s pulse using its wrist-facing sensors, it will vibrate and display a message that reads “Checking for pulse.” During this stage, the watch will give the user an option to stop the process, while also looking for signs of motion. If the wearer doesn’t move or manually stop the process, a countdown begins, along with vibration and an audio alert; after 20 seconds, if the user hasn’t manually ended the countdown, the watch will call emergency services on their behalf. Emergency responders will get an automated message passing along information (including user location) to first responders.
Google has shared that Loss of Pulse Detection is triggered when the Loss of Pulse Detection algorithm passes three “gates” in quick succession:
- A sudden, significant drop in variation in blood volume, as detected by the Pixel Watch 3’s green photoplethysmography sensor.
- An on-watch calculation determining high probability of pulselessness based on that data.
- An additional check for a “weak pulse” using different LEDs and sensors on the watch.
The above process takes about 40 seconds, after which the initial “Checking for pulse” warning is displayed. In this stage, moving or manually dismissing the notification will end the process. Otherwise, the secondary 20-second countdown begins, during which you’ll have to tap the cancel button on the watch to abort the process.
If you’ve got an LTE-equipped Pixel Watch 3, your watch itself will call for you; if you have the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth version, your connected phone will make the call. Your device will also give you the option to talk directly to the emergency operator, if you’re able.
Google says it trained the algorithms that power Loss of Pulse Detection with actors who wore tourniquets to “artificially induce pulselessness” at the wrist, and also simulated falls of the kind you’d expect from a user who suddenly lost their pulse.
How to enable Loss of Pulse Detection
Turning on Loss of Pulse Detection on your Pixel Watch 3 only takes a few taps in the Pixel Watch companion app. Here’s how.
- Open the Pixel Watch app on your phone.
- Tap Safety & emergency.
- Tap Loss of Pulse Detection.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup.
Google notes you have to be signed into Personal Safety with your Google account on the Pixel Watch 3 to enable the feature. If you don’t see the Loss of Pulse Detection option for your watch, the feature may not have rolled out to you yet (as of writing, I’m not seeing it in the US). Note that Loss of Pulse Detection is only available on Pixel Watch 3, not the first-generation Pixel Watch or Pixel Watch 2.
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Loss of Pulse Detection is rolling out in the US right now
Given the process takes over a minute from start to finish, Loss of Pulse Detection isn’t exactly a guarantee that you’ll survive a major health event. But any chance of getting help if your heart stops when nobody else around is better than none.
The Pixel Watch 3’s Loss of Pulse Detection feature is now becoming available in the US, in addition to the territories where it was already rolled out: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK.
Google Pixel Watch 3
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The Pixel Watch 3 is Google’s latest smartwatch. Its exclusive Loss of Pulse Detection feature has been delayed in the US for months, but it’s rolling out now. Set it up when you can — it could save your life.
