Pixel Watch 3: Sensors and AI detect cardiac arrest – this is how the new “Loss of Pulse” works (video)

Google has introduced a number of emergency features over the years, which are further expanded with each new Pixel generation: On the PixelWatch 3 will soon launch the new Loss of pulsewhich is designed to automatically detect cardiac arrest in the wearer. Because this feature has the potential to save lives, the team has put a lot of effort into developing this function. We will show you how it works and how it was developed.

The Pixel Watch 3 brings with it some new features that are initially only available exclusively on the third generation of the smartwatch, but due to their great influence, they can certainly be rolled out more widely soon. These include the Loss of pulse detectionwhich you as German readers will unfortunately not be able to use any time soon. Although Google is introducing the function in many European countries, including Austria and Switzerland, it is still avoiding Germany. Nevertheless, we want to take a closer look at this important feature.

Since the Pixel Watch 3 has a relatively reliable heart rate monitor, the first step of detection is not entirely surprising. Starting with the situation where the user is suffering from cardiac arrest: The heart rate monitor reports that it can no longer detect a pulse and thereby triggers a chain of further actions. Infrared and red lights are switched on to detect possible signs of a pulse that may have been missed by the standard sensor. At the same time, the motion sensor is set to the highest level of focus. The local AI on the smartwatch evaluates all of these signals and decides whether there is a “loss of pulse” or not.

If the AI ​​comes to the conclusion that the wearer has suffered a cardiac arrest, the next chain of actions is set in motion: The wearer is then informed of the detection on the smartwatch via an audio signal and vibration as well as on the display and has 20 seconds to break the chain. If the wearer does not react, emergency contacts are informed and the rescue service is called. An automatic message is played and the location is transmitted to the emergency call center.

A lot of effort was put into optimizing this recognition and teaching the AI ​​the necessary decision-making basis: Google worked with cardiologists and activated an AI that can make decisions based on hundreds of thousands of hours of recorded heartbeats. Once the basis was ready, stuntmen were hired who wore special devices to simulate a “loss of pulse” and to drop realistically.

In addition, Google has worked with emergency services, emergency call centers, dispatchers and paramedics, and other experts to define detections, actions, and frameworks.

The entire function is not yet perfect and the algorithms will not detect every cardiac arrest. But it is a big step and every life saved is worth the effort. It is almost more important that no false detections were made. Because every false positive will lead to entire masses of users deactivating the function or, in the worst case, rescue centers no longer being able to take these reports seriously. Let's hope that it works as well as Google shows in the video above.

[Google-Blog]

#	preview	product	Price
1		Pulse oximeter PULOX PO-200 Solo in blue Finger pulse oximeter for measuring the pulse and…	29,90 EUR 18,90 EUR	Buy on Amazon
2		Polar H10 heart rate sensor, ANT+, Bluetooth, ECG, waterproof heart rate sensor with chest strap	99,90 EUR 74,99 EUR	Buy on Amazon
3		Beurer BM 27 upper arm blood pressure monitor with cuff fit control, clinically validated, for…	27,99 EUR	Buy on Amazon
4		COOSPO H6M heart rate monitor heart rate belt chest strap Bluetooth ANT+ connectivity, heart rate sensor…	32,99 EUR 23,19 EUR	Buy on Amazon

Last updated on August 24, 2024 / Images from the Amazon Product Advertising API / Affiliate links, thank you for your support!

---

---