Google’s android earthquake warning goes live in two new countries

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The Android earthquake notification system spreads outside the US for the first time, carrying detection and warning using an Android smartphone for a potentially dangerous earthquake. Expansion will begin in Greece and New Zealand, Google said, which no one currently has an early warning warning system.

The Android earthquake system was launched last year, with Google working with US geological surveys (USGS). It depends on the usual accelerometer on the Android smartphone to track seismic waves: If the phone believes that the shock is the recording it can be from the earthquake, that the data is forwarded to the Google server along with the telephone location course note at that time.

Obviously, it takes more than a report like that to confirm the earthquake. Google grows data from several cellphones to find out whether there really is an earthquake, and if so where it is possible and that size. If you are looking for a “earthquake near me” the service will show the information calculated by Google, while – in the US – it was also passed to Shakealert’s third-party services.

This Shakealert is responsible for actually sending notifications, initially launching services in California. The availability of expanded recently to Oregon, and came maybe people in Washington would also be able to register. However, for Greece and New Zealand, Google has taken a different route.

Instead of third party partners, Android themselves will be responsible for warning notifications. This is the first time the OS will handle detection and warnings, Google says, Android users will automatically get early warning warnings on the earthquake in their area, even though they will be able to turn it off in device settings if they choose not to do it. If they choose not to do it see them.

While the warning may not be a predicted earthquake in the future, Google says that research shows even only a few seconds that can make a difference for how successful you are riding an incident. Indeed, more than half of the injuries seem to be prevented, must be an early warning to pay attention.

Some locations are vulnerable to earthquakes and have installed a high resolution sensor, which tracks tremors and appropriate problems. But they are expensive and complex, and while normal in California, not every state or country enjoys the same thing. By tapping the sensor on Android phones, Google argues, along with the spread of the mass market, it can provide an alternative crowdsourcing to special hardware.