THE’Use of smartphones It has changed much over time and the technological and digital evolution that accompanied it today allows you to do things that in the past were not even imaginable. So much so that the “simple” communication device is also an extremely useful tool for the personal security. Just think of functionality such as the automatic recognition of road accidents, which activates an emergency call if the device detects a collision, or to the position detection systems that allow family members or rescuers to know in real time where a person in difficulty is located. In this direction the new function on which Google is working for the Smartphone of the Pixel series.
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The functionality that Google is working
From the analysis of the code of the Beta version 25.35.34 of Google Play Services, it emerged that the Mountain View giant would be developing a system that would allow you to broadcast live videos to the police or rescuers during a dangerous situation. An evolution that closely recalls the function introduced by Apple with iOS 18, where users can send images or videos in real time to emergency services, at the request of the operators.
From the strings of code that anticipate theNew function interface It reads, for example, that emergency services could use the device camera to view the situation. It is also specified that the video could be recorded, opening up potentially interesting scenarios on the safety frontbut equally delicate from the point of view of privacy.
Currently, Google already offers an exclusive safety function for pixels that allows you to record a video up to 45 minutes in case of emergency. If the user has activated the Emergency contactsthe system automatically sends a link to the movie 15 seconds after the end of the registration. The recipients can therefore download it within seven days. This solution, however, does not yet allow to transmit in real time what is happening and does not directly involve the emergency services.
The new function identified in the code would represent a significant evolution, especially in situations in which speed can make a difference. Offer emergency operators the opportunity to see with your own eyes what is happening could improve the timeliness and quality of the intervention, especially in situations where it is possible save the victim from an attack. On the other hand, it cannot be underestimated as the choice to record and send live images opens questions related to the management of sensitive data and the security of shared information.
At the moment it is not yet clear whether the function will be exclusive of Pixel devices or if it will be extended to all Android smartphones. Since the code was identified in the Google Play Services, the hypothesis of anwider implementation is not to be excluded. One of the main problems to be addressed will probably not be of a technical but legal nature, precisely because of the privacy issues.
