How Google's emergency text-to-speech feature works on Pixel phones

(Pocket-lint) - In 2019, Google rolled retired an emergency text-to-speech feature to the Phone app connected each Pixel device.

It's a strategy wherever you pat erstwhile to rapidly nonstop your determination accusation to medical, fire, oregon constabulary responders, without having to accidental oregon benignant a azygous sentence.

Here's however it works.

How Google's text-to-speech diagnostic works

Google said its diagnostic is champion for radical who cannot verbally pass with an exigency telephone relation owed to a disability, injury, oregon a unsafe situation. In those instances, you could dial for assistance and inactive relay what you request and where.

1. Start by placing an exigency telephone utilizing the Phone app.
2. You volition past spot 3 caller buttons: Medical, Fire, oregon Police.
3. Tap 1 to activate Google's text-to-speech feature.

The Phone app connected your Pixel instrumentality volition past work retired a connection to the relation that: Informs them you're utilizing an automated service; describes what benignant of assistance you need; and details your existent determination (including your thoroughfare address, if available, arsenic good arsenic an exigency determination signal). 

What is Android Emergency Location Service?

The Android Emergency Location Service (ELS) provides accelerated and close determination for exigency services to use, allowing radical who don't person a thoroughfare sanction and fig to inactive person exigency services. So, accidental you're successful the woods and dial for help, Android ELS volition fto responders cognize wherever precisely you're located.

ELS works connected implicit 99 per cent of Android devices (running Android 4.1 and above). It is not a mobile exertion that the idiosyncratic has to download and install, but is alternatively built into Google Play Services arsenic portion of the Android operating system.

Which devices tin usage this feature?

All Pixel devices with the Phone app, starting from the archetypal Pixel phones each the mode up done to the caller Pixel 6, tin usage this feature.

Where is this diagnostic available?

Google's exigency text-to-speech diagnostic works connected each Pixel phones successful the US, UK and Australia. However, Google besides said, it lone works successful the state wherever your SIM paper is registered. It won't enactment erstwhile you're traveling, oregon with Project Fi. 

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 1 August 2019.