I've recently added a pass code to unlock my phone. Noticed there is a button called Emergency. My question is: If you double tap this, will it call 911?
The emergency button on the passcode seems to be designed to allow a third party to make an emergency call on your phone in the event that you are incapacitated.
This makes it less useful for those of us who leave our iPhones with VoiceOver switched on since most people won't know how to operate the phone with VoiceOver and probably won't even get as far as the passcode screen.
Assuming for the moment that VoiceOver is on and that you've double tapped on the unlock button to get to the passcode screen, then the emergency button will be at bottom left of the passcode screen.
Double tapping on emergency will bring up a keypad which will allow a third party to dial an emergency call without knowing your passcode. I think only the various international emergency numbers, 999, 911 etc. , can be dialled. If you have an iPhone that supports the Health app then it's also possible to add "Medical ID" information that can be accessed from the emergency screen. I've set this to make available information about my medications, sight and to give emergency contact numbers.
Having said that, though, if I leave my iPhone with VoiceOver switched on then I don't think many people who might find me unconscious somewhere would be able to find their way in to this information. So, if you feel a faint coming on, try to switch off VoiceOver first!.
In that comment above, I've not once heard Siri mentioned. Don't forget that you can also tell Siri to turn VoiceOver off, and I'm sure 911 can be dialed as well.
Comments
The emergency button on passcode screen
The emergency button on the passcode seems to be designed to allow a third party to make an emergency call on your phone in the event that you are incapacitated.
This makes it less useful for those of us who leave our iPhones with VoiceOver switched on since most people won't know how to operate the phone with VoiceOver and probably won't even get as far as the passcode screen.
Assuming for the moment that VoiceOver is on and that you've double tapped on the unlock button to get to the passcode screen, then the emergency button will be at bottom left of the passcode screen.
Double tapping on emergency will bring up a keypad which will allow a third party to dial an emergency call without knowing your passcode. I think only the various international emergency numbers, 999, 911 etc. , can be dialled. If you have an iPhone that supports the Health app then it's also possible to add "Medical ID" information that can be accessed from the emergency screen. I've set this to make available information about my medications, sight and to give emergency contact numbers.
Having said that, though, if I leave my iPhone with VoiceOver switched on then I don't think many people who might find me unconscious somewhere would be able to find their way in to this information. So, if you feel a faint coming on, try to switch off VoiceOver first!.
Thank you
Thanks, Brian. I didn't want to double tap that button in case it actually called 911.
Don't forget our Siri
In that comment above, I've not once heard Siri mentioned. Don't forget that you can also tell Siri to turn VoiceOver off, and I'm sure 911 can be dialed as well.