Xiaomi Adds Earthquake Warning Feature In MIUI 11

Xiaomi has been rolling out the MIUI 11 update for a while now. The Android skin from the Chinese tech company has some interesting features so far. Now, Xiaomi is adding a new feature for earthquake detection in China. The life-saving feature is developed jointly with the disaster warning institute and was earlier on beta testing in the Sichuan province.

Xiaomi Earthquake Detection Feature

The Xiaomi earthquake detection feature will be available on the MIUI 11 and the Mi TV platforms. According to the Xiaomi blog update, the new feature will deliver warnings 'seconds to tens of seconds' before the seismic waves begin wreaking havoc. A second or two is very crucial during an earthquake and Xiaomi aims to help users during the short time frame.

Xiaomi states that the earthquake detection feature was developed after the deadly Sichuan earthquake in 2008. The company has partnered with the Institute of Care-life, a Chengdu-based organization focusing on natural disaster warnings for the new feature.

"Comparing with the earthquake warning alerts sent via smartphone apps available in a few countries, this function integrated into the operating system saves users from having to download the apps," says Wang Tun, head of the institute. For the time being, Xiaomi is rolling out the feature in China alone. There is no update if the feature will roll out in other regions yet.

Earthquake Detection Feature On Smartphones

Xiaomi isn't the first to launch such an earthquake detection feature on smartphones. Even telecom carriers and third-party apps offer earthquake warnings. For instance, Apple rolled out the native earthquake warnings in Japan back in 2011.

The Xiaomi earthquake detection feature doesn't require the user to download separate apps. The feature also offers reduced latency, where an extra second or two could be a life-saver. The Chinese conglomerate is calling on other smartphone makers and IoT service providers to offer similar life-saving features.