Google Pixel Watch 3 Clears Major Hurdle with FDA Approval

One of the most effective strategies a company can employ to boost its product’s sales is to make users believe it’s an indispensable part of their daily lives. Google appears to be following this approach with the Pixel Watch 3. This week, the company’s third-generation smartwatch received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Loss of Pulse Detection feature. This feature was initially announced alongside the smartwatch but had been dormant pending FDA clearance. Once the feature is rolled out later next month, the Pixel Watch 3 will be able to automatically call for help if the user’s pulse stops.

The Loss of Pulse Detection feature has been available in the European Union since the smartwatch’s launch last fall, but this is the first time it has been approved for use in the United States. The feature works as advertised: if the user’s heart rate drops to zero, the Pixel Watch 3 immediately enters emergency mode, starts a countdown, and sounds an alarm. If the user fails to respond within a few seconds, the watch will automatically call emergency services, provided the user has set this up in advance with an Android device.

According to Google, the watch is capable of distinguishing between a genuine cardiac event and a situation where the user has simply removed the watch for the day. This is made possible by the watch’s multi-check algorithm, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze patterns from the multipath heart-rate sensor. Google claims to have rigorously tested the algorithm using “hundreds of thousands of hours of data” and consulted with a diverse range of experts, including cardiologists and emergency medical professionals, to minimize false positives.

I have accidentally triggered the Fall Detection feature on a previous-generation Pixel Watch, which happened when I slipped on a hill and landed awkwardly. While false positives can occur, the watch’s countdown and alert system allow users to cancel the emergency response if it’s triggered unnecessarily. Nevertheless, Google is likely to heavily promote this feature, particularly since the Apple Watch does not currently offer similar functionality.