Wear OS smartwatches can now receive alerts for earthquakes even when disconnected from a smartphone. This enhancement negates the necessity for a linked Android device to obtain emergency notifications. The capability is included in Google Play Services v26.07 and is being implemented server-side. Google’s earthquake alert framework utilizes sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers to sense seismic events. It gathers anonymized information from surrounding devices to ascertain if an earthquake is taking place and disseminates alerts to users in the impacted region. Previously, Wear OS timepieces needed to be paired with a smartphone to access these alerts, but they can now function autonomously. Google has not specified how this functionality will operate, yet it might work on cellular Wear OS watches or non-cellular variants linked to Wi-Fi. The Play Services update can be obtained via the Google Play Store, but activating the feature may necessitate a server-side update on your smartwatch.
Wear OS Now Offers Standalone Earthquake Notifications for Improved Safety
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