Google is expanding its potentially life-saving Early Earthquake Alerts to Wear OS devices, providing users with crucial safety information in case of seismic activity. As detailed in the June update of Google’s System Services, users will receive the same alerts on their smartwatches as they would on Android smartphones equipped with the warning system. The inclusion of earthquake alerts on Wear OS has been in the works for a few months, based on a teardown that revealed details of the feature.
Upon activation, these alerts will inform users about the magnitude of an earthquake and its estimated distance from their location. This expansion aims to cover a broader range of users beyond just those in high-risk areas, similar to what Google has done with Android devices before. Google first introduced its Earthquake Alerts System in 2020 and has since broadened its access to multiple countries.
By leveraging the accelerometers in smartphones, the system detects seismic activity and sends this information to Google’s servers. This data is then combined with inputs from other Android devices to confirm the occurrence of an earthquake. When a quake is detected, the system will alert all Android users within a certain range, providing guidance on how to stay safe.
With the addition of Wear OS capabilities, even those without their phones will still be alerted to life-threatening quakes, enhancing overall safety for smartwatch users. In conjunction with the earthquake alerts, the June update for Google’s Play Services also includes bug fixes and developer updates for the Wallet app, although the rollout of the safety feature has been gradual.