When we think about devices that have proven their worth in saving human lives, Apple is at the forefront. Apple Watches and iPhones have helped people in medical or emergency situations. Now, another Apple device, the HomePod, has proven its worth. An Apple HomePod is now being credited with saving a family from a potentially disastrous house fire accidentally started by their pet dog in the US.
The incident took place in the early hours of June 26 when the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) received an emergency call about a house fire at around 4:43 a.m. Upon arrival, the officials discovered that the fire, which started in the kitchen, had already been extinguished by the homeowners. The homeowners then shared how they were alerted to the fire by a notification from their HomePod, which woke them just in time to prevent the blaze from spreading.
According to a post by the CSFD on Facebook, the family’s dog inadvertently triggered the fire by turning on the stove. Security footage revealed that the dog, in an attempt to investigate some boxes placed on the stovetop, stood on its hind legs and accidentally turned on one of the heating elements. Shortly thereafter, the boxes caught fire, and flames began to spread, reaching up to the ceiling.
Fortunately, the homeowners were alerted by their HomePod, which they initially believed had sent a “high heat” notification. Although the Apple’s HomePod does not feature a high-temperature alert, it is equipped with Sound Recognition technology. This feature allows the HomePod to detect the sound of smoke alarms and other critical alerts and send notifications to connected devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. It is likely that the HomePod recognized the sound of the smoke alarm and sent a critical alert to the homeowners’ devices.
Notably, Apple announced the first-generation HomePod on June 5, 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. However, the launch was delayed and Apple began taking orders for the smart speaker in January, 2018 following the final release on February 9, 2018. The latest HomePod is the second-generation model, announced on January 18, 2023.
The second-gen HomePod features improved sound quality and a more compact design. It runs on Apple’s S7 chip, includes an Apple U1 chip for ultra-wideband support, and offers Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity. Additionally, the second-generation HomePod supports the Thread network protocol and has a larger touch screen panel. It also gained the ability to detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through a software update in April 2023. In India, the HomePod is currently retailing at Rs 32,900, while the HomePod mini is available for Rs 10,900 on Apple’s official website.
Source Agencies
