Sense 2 fall detection

[Guy_]

Just wondering if any of the feature suggestions (other than the button) have been implemented in this new watch, such as

• fall detection or
• face rotation for left handed people so they can operate the button normally with their thumb like right handed people, and in case there are accidental presses still?

It would seem feature suggestions are pretty much a waste of time.

Who in 2022/3 is going to buy a watch without fall detection or emergency call for help?

Surely the most important health issue is life itself. A stress score or such is virtually irrelevant in comparison.

[Jdsenter]

@Guy_  I don't understand fall detection, if you don't have your phone and are out and about and fall, what is the device to do? Beep or vibrate? Shout help

I understand why others have this feature but they have a LTE connection, but for a Bluetooth or WiFi device, how does it help? 

[Guy_]

@Jdsenter If you are out and about without a phone how do you receive or make phone calls either?

Most often accidents can occur around the house, especially for the elderly.

If one forgets the phone or watch at home when you go out it won't work, one simply can't get help.

Also even with LTE watches if there is no cell reception it doesn't work.

As Fitbit don't make LTE watches, unfortunately, you have to make do with what's available and use it wisely.

The v.alrt also needs a phone to work.

The point is if you are in an area with cell or wifi reception you can get help if you have both phone and watch with you, which would be more useful than not. Eg. phone is in your bag or another room and you can't get to it but you can press a panic app on your watch to call for help via the phone, or detects a fall it can still arrange help.

It can be a lifesaver if you have it, and not if you don't.

[Jdsenter]

@Guy_  I hike, bike, or exercise, without a phone a lot, I have an mp3/radio device which I use to listen to music/podcasts/news etc... But the phone can stay home or in the car, trying to stay connected 100% of the time for some us is too much, to decompress walk away from the phone.

Now if you require that function, there are better devices than a fitness tracker, I know the Smartwatch can track my heart rate or AFib, but if I had a medical issue I would not rely on that alone.

Fall detection is a nice to have feature but what does it do when detected is the bigger question? 

[N8teGee]

@Guy_ There has been no mention of any of the things you've posted above. I guess we will have to wait until more information is released or some hands on reviews. As it stands though I'd say it's probably unlikely any of those features will be present. 

[MarkMM]

"Who in 2022/3 is going to buy a watch without fall detection or emergency call for help?"

I'll bet millions will. Myself included. 

[deiG]

Could you define fall detection? I don't quite understand. 😊

[Guy_]

@deiG  -See feature suggestion  and all comments. It's why some people buy Apple watch (see advert) or other brands who have it.

[Heather-S]

While I think this feature is really useful, I personally take my phone everywhere -- on all my hikes, walks, and runs because I'm a petite female and want my phone with me in case of an emergency. I'd rather rely on that than an SOS from a watch. 

I have an Apple Watch, but honestly prefer Fitbit and even though AW has that emergency feature, I would still bring my phone with me on activities outside the house for safety.  

[Guy_]

Hi @Heather-S - it's always good to be prepared, and in case you have an accident and are unconscious it would be good to have a backup emergency call initiated from the watch, and escalated if needed.

A panic button/app on the watch which could call for help is also useful in case you are unable to reach your phone.

It may also be someone else needing help, so a phone is very useful to have with you.

Safety is very important, it's no good just being healthy, one has to be alive too! And anything one can do to ensure that is worth doing.

[N8teGee]

Yeah I think it's definitely a good feature to have even if some people don't have a need for it. I doubt it would take too much to implement. 

[t.parker]

Safety features are usually those which we never think that we may ever need them. I had several close calls cycling on roads and I often run and cycle routes designed by software that should be smart but not always is. I have enough imagination to expect an unexpected. Now, I do use safety beacon (some watches support it an Strava, too) feature so my wife knows where I am when running or cycling outdoor. I also enable incident detection feature (on watch or bike computer). The feature doesn't instantly notifies the world that something happened. If user comes to sudden stop, some weird things are recorded by sensors etc. then it beeps and asks whether it should send text message to specified contact. If nothing happened we  have chance to dismiss it, otherwise, after timeout it will notify whoever we entered as emergency contact (sending message and link to the map with GPS location). Luckily, it never happened to me but I'm familiar with the feature because my friend crashed (quite badly) into tree while riding MTB trail in the forest and the incident detection probably saved his life.

I think it takes some moments of real fear to realize that those features can save life 🙂