That Pesky IPhone Police Auto-Dial

[gforce1994]

There’s a new iPhone feature that allows you to call the police by pressing certain buttons on the iPhone. Unfortunately, this feature also can accidentally be activated on a roller coaster. Has this happened to you? 

[King Ding Dong]

Five rapid clicks on the sleep/wake button?  What else do you have in your pocket?  

Just turn the feature off while in the park, it’s just a slider.

[gforce1994]

4 minutes ago, King Ding Dong said:

Five rapid clicks on the sleep/wake button?  What else do you have in your pocket?  

Just turn the feature off while in the park, it’s just a slider.

Nothing. The gforces of the ride causes the clicking of the buttons on the phone.

[King Ding Dong]

2 boys with iPhones and this has never happened to us.  As the saying goes give a monkey and a typewriter enough time and the monkey will produce a masterpiece.   

I would go buy a lottery ticket if I were you.  

[TheRickster]

I to follow boddah on instagram. 

[BoddaH1994]

14 minutes ago, TheRickster said:

I to follow boddah on instagram. 

Thanks.

But I told my story on Facebook. 

I got a call while in the shed from an unknown number. Googled it after the ride was over and it was Warren County Dispatch. I freaked out for a second thinking that something had happened before I realized that my call history showed that I called 911 one minute before.

I called back and told the lady what had happened. She was very nice and very professional.

I’m guessing this happens a lot.

And yes - the SOS button combo is now disabled on my iPhone X. 

[Tera Ryzing]

Apple should be responsible.

[King Ding Dong]

Lol.  Apple should be responsible for people violently shaking their phone for 2 minutes.  Issues, dude, you have issues.  

[gforce1994]

It happened to me after riding Backlot. I’m so relieved that the dispatcher did not hear the gunfight SFX on the MCBR. That could have ended a whole ton worse.

[malem]

This has happened to me three times - once each at Kings Island, Kings Dominion and Six Flags Great Adventure. It's important to stay on the line (or answer, if they hang up and call back) so they know there's not a real emergency.

The dispatchers in Virginia and New Jersey were nice about it. Warren County told me to be more careful. Making emergency call mode easy to access while preventing accidental calls is easier said than done.

When this happens with a satellite communications device, it can be a lot worse.

[gforce1994]

31 minutes ago, malem said:

This has happened to me three times - once each at Kings Island, Kings Dominion and Six Flags Great Adventure. It's important to stay on the line (or answer, if they hang up and call back) so they know there's not a real emergency.

The dispatchers in Virginia and New Jersey were nice about it. Warren County told me to be more careful. Making emergency call mode easy to access while preventing accidental calls is easier said than done.

When this happens with a satellite communications device, it can be a lot worse.

Yes, however a lot people use iPhones, and I bet this happens to a large majority of individuals without them realizing.

[Magenta Lizard]

The "feature," with such an easily accidental activation, is only on the newest iPhones, which is probably why one doesn't hear about it happening more often, yet. As time goes on, and more people upgrade, this will most likely become a more widespread problem. Ultimately, Apple will probably either change the way it works or do an information campaign so people know more about what can cause an accidental 911 call. 

On my iPhone, which is from a previous generation, the same "feature" requires interaction with the screen after repeatedly hitting the button, so it is extremely less likely to be activated unintentionally. 

[King Ding Dong]

https://www.imore.com/how-set-and-use-emergency-sos-your-iphone-ios-11

According to this iMore article by default the iPhone 8, 8+ and X require the sleep/wake button AND one volume button pressed to active. So that is two simultaneous button presses.  The 7 and older iPhones just require the 5 sleep/wake button presses.  

In all cases the auto-call setting must be set to ON or a screen slider is required to place the emergency call. Apple has provided the tools to prevent most accidental emergency calling but getting users to use those tools is another problem.  

Of course the park could help by fixing/replacing excessively rough coasters.  

[gforce1994]

41 minutes ago, King Ding Dong said:

https://www.imore.com/how-set-and-use-emergency-sos-your-iphone-ios-11

According to this iMore article by default the iPhone 8, 8+ and X require the sleep/wake button AND one volume button pressed to active. So that is two simultaneous button presses.  The 7 and older iPhones just require the 5 sleep/wake button presses.  

In all cases the auto-call setting must be set to ON or a screen slider is required to place the emergency call. Apple has provided the tools to prevent most accidental emergency calling but getting users to use those tools is another problem.  

Of course the park could help by fixing/replacing excessively rough coasters.  

It seems to be happening a lot on Diamondback, from what I’ve heard.

[King Ding Dong]

22 minutes ago, gforce1994 said:

It seems to be happening a lot on Diamondback, from what I’ve heard.

Must be that B&M Rattle at work.  

[gforce1994]

2 hours ago, King Ding Dong said:

Must be that B&M Rattle at work.  

Hahahahaha!

[flightoffear1996]

I have not had this issue but I also generally have the convenience of leaving my phone with my wife this year.   

[Creed Bratton]

I have not had this issue and I have an iPhone 7.

[gforce1994]

10 hours ago, chugh43 said:

I have not had this issue and I have an iPhone 7.

All of the reports I’ve heard include IPhone 8 and above. 

[Creed Bratton]

7 minutes ago, gforce1994 said:

All of the reports I’ve heard include IPhone 8 and above. 

Cool story? 

The link King Ding Dong shared talks about the different models and how it works. I shared that with my phone I have not had the issue. I didn't ask for a clarification on what you've heard. 

[BeeastFarmer]

Avoid the issue! Revert back to a Nokia flip phone ASAP.  Maybe KI will let those phones in Diamnondback's queue go for a song...