Google has implemented a new map view feature in Wireless Emergency Alerts for Androidso that users will be able to more easily find the areas affected by a disaster or emergency and know their location, directly from the alert notification.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are known in Spain as ES-Alert, and they are public safety notifications sent by emergency coordination centers of the autonomous communities, in collaboration with Civil Protection, directly to the ‘smartphones’ of users in specific areas.
These alerts use cell broadcast technology, i.e. Cell Broadcast, to warn of imminent dangers and emergenciessuch as a flood, fire or other disasters. So, no app required to receive them and emit sounds or vibrations even if the smartphone is silenced.
In this sense, Google has introduced an improvement in the notifications of these alerts in the Android deviceswhich are usually exclusively text and now, They will also show a map view so that users can more easily find the affected area, directly from the notification received.
That is, users will be able to display on a map both its location and the specific areas where the alert is developing or emergency, without the need to use another application. This will make it possible to have more specific information in a simple way to help make decisions in the event of a disaster.
Furthermore, since these alerts They reach all users even if the usual networks are saturated. The new function will make this specific information available, even when it cannot be searched through the Internet or other map applications.
This is what the technology company has shared among a set of notes on the latest version of Google system services (v26.12) launched this Monday, as detailed on its support page, in the security and emergency section.
With all this, Google has indicated that this novelty for Wireless Emergency Alerts on Android devices is being implemented. gradually launching for all users globally.