Calls to emergency services could become just a fingerprint away, thanks to Apple's latest innovation.
SEE ALSO:The iPhone 8's biggest new feature could be standard for all iPhones by 2018A patent application from Apple published Tuesday, according to CNBC, described technology that would trigger a 911 call in a way that is designed to hide your actions from attackers.
This "panic command," when activated, would provide your location to first responders. It could also livestream audio or video from the phone.
The current means of phoning 911 are "readily apparent to someone watching," explains the author of the patent application. With this new technology, a user could appear to comply with an attacker's request to unlock his or her phone, but actually covertly call 911.
If you're worried about accidentally triggering the service, we understand. However, according to the patent, the panic command can only be triggered by an input entered with a "predetermined finger or finger sequence," i.e., pinky-index-ring.
One of the proposed sequences from the Apple patentCredit: Apple/US Patent OfficeIn any case, don't get too worked up about this feature yet. It hasn't been confirmed for the new iPhone 8, which may rely on facial recognition instead of a fingerprint sensor.
The patent also mentions a headphone jack, which Apple has annoyingly phased out, so it's possible this patent is an older one that's just now getting published.
Check out the entire patent below.
Obviously, there is room for human error in a service like this (you can just imagine accidental 911 butt dials), but there's clearly a need to covertly communicate with emergency services. Remember the story of the woman who used her Pizza Hut order to save her family from a hostage situation?
Whether or not this feature becomes reality, at least it seems like Apple is working to make us safer.
TopicsAppleiPhoneInnovations
(责任编辑：知識)
You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic
The story behind the viral picture of a young woman's arrest in Russia'Stranger Things' star Millie Bobby Brown is taking a muchDrake keeps canceling shows and everyone is pissedPlayStation Now game streaming is coming to PCWe asked linguists if Donald Trump speaks like that on purpose
Donald Trump may do a good "drunk uncle at Thanksgiving" impersonation at his rallies, but amid all
...[详细]Twitter is loosening up its 140
It's now possible to squeeze in a few extra characters on Twitter. 。 Beginning now, usernames will no
...[详细]'The Art of the Deal' gets a new chapter on Twitter after TrumpCare collapses
Welpity welp welp welpington.。 If you care to venture onto the Twittersphere over the next few hours
...[详细]Boss teacher pranks his fourth
Pencils up for your spelling test today, class.。Your first word is blorskee, as in, "I lost my blors
...[详细]Singapore gets world's first driverless taxis
SINGAPORE -- The world's first self-driving taxis started picking up passengers in Singapore on Thur
...[详细]North Carolina fan really sinks her teeth into supporting the Tar Heels
Maybe painting your teeth is the new painting your face? You might have seen the photo above pinging
...[详细]Little girl photobombed by huge venomous snake
Snakes can come out of nowhere when you're out in the country in Australia. 。As mother Bianca Dickins
...[详细]You might soon be able to order and pick up Starbucks without talking to a single damn human being
Starbucks is trying to let you buy coffee without speaking to or standing in line with another human
...[详细]
The group behind a growing list of celebrity social media breaches has struck again, this time takin
...[详细]College girls use 56 boxes of mac and cheese as a bath bomb and we don't know why
Despite what you've heard, mac and cheese will not get you clean. 。This week in teen news, 19-year-ol
...[详细]Olympian celebrates by ordering an intimidating amount of McDonald's
Justin Theroux gave Jennifer Aniston an empty piñata because being famous is terrible