Is this thing still going off every time somebody gets on a roller coaster?
This is a completely different feature that uses satellites to communicate with emergency services.
No.
That’s the crash detection feature; the feature referenced in this article is the ability to use satellite communications in the event that you need help but don’t have cell phone reception.
This feature is such a good addition. It was a big reason I upgraded to the iPhone 14 pro last year. We do a lot of hiking as a family and even though most of our hikes take place in the surrounding areas of a major metropolitan region, we often find ourselves in spots with no cell phone reception. Having the ability to call for help in those areas, while I may never actually need it, is a nice feeling.
It’s such an essential feature. I use Android phones and I’m praying they follow suit soon.
