Apple Watch can call 911 with a single button press

Apple showed off some of the new features of its smartwatch today. Along with helping you stay healthy by tracking your fitness, the Apple Watch, when updated with watchOS 3, can quickly call for emergency services. If you press and hold the side button the Watch will call 911, or whatever number is assigned to emergency services in your current area.

For this to work, you'll need to be connected to a phone, or within range of Wi-Fi. The emergency function will automatically pull your location and share with first responders. And it will message the friends and family you have assigned as contacts.

The Watch will also share a basic medical ID, giving emergency services your name, age, and listing any medical conditions. This feature, dubbed SOS after the international distress code, will be part of the Apple's Watch when its next generation operating system, watchOS3, which is arriving this fall.

You can check out some images of the SOS feature, including the location sharing and medical ID, below.

SOS on the Watch at WWDC16 announcement photos

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