eFM News

Google launched an earthquake alert system in the U.S. state of California on Tuesday to let Android-powered smartphones double as tremor detectors.

The new "ShakeAlert" system, created in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, uses signals from hundreds of seismometers across the state to trigger warnings sent to people's Android phones.

Principal software engineer Marc Stogaitis said in a blog post that they "saw an opportunity" to provide people with timely, helpful earthquake information when they search, as well as a few seconds warning to get themselves and their loved ones to safety if needed."

He said smartphones are typically equipped with tiny accelerometers that sense movement and can catch shaking, meaning an Android phone can be a mini seismometer, joining millions of other Android phones to form "the world's largest earthquake detection network."

According to Google, phones that detect what might be earthquake activity can automatically send a signal to a data center, where computers quickly interpret motion and location data in aggregate to determine whether a quake is happening.

California, which lies on the San Andreas Fault and is prone to earthquakes, was chosen as the first location because it has an extensive seismometer network in place.