When technology helps with life-threatening situations, we really realise its importance and practicality. Another such incident has surfaced online, where Apple’s AI assistant Siri helped save the life of a 70-year-old man in Florida. According to a report by WSVN, Daniel Vallaire from Ft. Lauderdale survived a medical emergency and he was alone at home. It was Siri that helped him reach out to his family who eventually helped him out.
Vallaire reportedly suffered a stroke and collapsed in his bathroom. He was unable to move and nearly spent 48 hours on the bathroom floor. He was somehow able to crawl to his living room, where his phone was within reach. Using just his voice, he prompted Siri to call his daughter, Victoria Vallaire. She quickly realised the severity of the situation and called 911.
Medical help arrived eventually and his life was saved. In an interview with WSVN, Vallaire expressed his gratitude, stating, “I said, ‘Siri, call Victoria Vallaire,’ and she did. If I had a landline, there’s no way I would have been able to get to it. If this had happened without [Siri], I wouldn’t be here.”
That’s an amazing and inspiring example of how technology has helped save a life. You can only imagine what would have happened otherwise.
In addition to this, Apple has been working towards integrating emergency-response technology into its ecosystem. Siri, available on all Apple devices, can be activated with a simple voice command, making it a crucial tool in life-threatening situations.
There are also the Fall Detection and AFib monitoring features on the Apple Watch that have also been credited with saving lives. The Emergency SOS via satellite feature enables users to reach help even in areas without cellular coverage. Additionally, the irregular rhythm notification feature on Apple Watch alerts users to possible heart conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib).