Devices like the Apple Watch can be worn to sleep since there are apps/features that allow users their sleep patterns. However it seems that maybe Apple should consider redesigning the way the Apple Watch and iPhone’s SOS alerts are triggered because according to multiple reports, there have been quite a few users who have accidentally dialled 911.
This was recently brought to light in a tweet by Jason Rowley and based on the comments on his tweet, quite a number of users are experiencing or have experienced something similar in the past where it isn’t just limited to the Apple Watch but the iPhone as well. The Verge cites an example of a fellow colleague who mistook the power button as volume controls and accidentally triggered the SOS alert.
Public service announcement: If you sleep with an Apple Watch on, consider turning off the Emergency SOS feature, or you too may wake up to 3 cops in your bedroom at 1 AM.
— Jason D. Rowley (@Jason_Rowley) March 16, 2018
That being said, the SOS alert feature was designed to be discreet in which there might be some situations where users need to dial 911 without being seen. For the Apple Watch, this involves holding down the crown button long enough, which can accidentally happen when you’re asleep and you’re lying on the device.
The iPhone’s SOS alert can also be triggered by tapping the side button multiple times, which like in the example above could be accidentally set off by someone mistaking it for volume controls. There is a “fix” in which users can disable the feature, but given its potential for use in an emergency situation, we’re not sure if that is advisable.
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