Google is once again the focus, and that is, has turned millions of Android phones into a global earthquake detection network. With this, users receive automatic warnings seconds before or while it is starting to happen. This tool was named Android Earthquake Alerts System, or what is the same, Google Early Warning System.
This Google earthquake project in Spain is sent thanks to the fact that the company uses smartphones as a vast network of sensors. The system makes Androids transform into seismometers to notify citizens seconds or minutes before the tremors hit.
How detection works
The system uses what is known as accelerometera sensor that detects when you turn the screen or count steps, integrated into your phone. Once the mobile sensor has detected the characteristic vibrations of an earthquake, send the signal to Google with the location, And here comes the processing, if hundreds of phones send similar reports at the same time, the system confirms that it is a real earthquake.
One of the best features of Android Earthquake Alerts System, is that arrives before the earthquakeusually because digital signals through the Internet move at the speed of light, while seismic waves move slower through the earth. This allows the alert to reach people who They are a little further from the epicenter before the natural disaster begins.
Google notices
If the system confirms the earthquake, send automatic alerts to users that are in the designated area. However, these natural phenomena are classified into different categories. depending on its origin, its depth and the type of movement. For this reason, Android has different types of notices designed, for mild earthquakes of magnitude 3 or 4 shows a small notification on the screen without removing the silent mode, which are called attention alerts. But, for moderate or strong earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater, there are alerts of action which ignores the volume or mute settings, emits a loud sound, and the screen fills with instructions to seek shelter.
Of course, to receive these notifications automatically, You must have the option activated in the configuration of the mobile device and have location activated.
Does it have to be configured?
Although it is integrated into this type of phone (Android), the location must be checked because it must be activated if you want it to work, and also the emergency services on the device. But, if you don’t know if it is activated or not, the steps are very simple: enter settings, look for the section Security and emergencyonce inside you must click on Earthquake alerts and make sure the button is activated.