Personal assistant Cortana to the rescue in car crash

Sep 22, 2016 12:10 GMT  ·  By

Digital assistants available on today’s smartphones are becoming smarter and can perform a wider array of activities, including not only sending emails or setting reminders but also contacting authorities should you need in case of emergency.

This is why a woman who was involved in a car accident in the United Kingdom asked Cortana to call the local police department, but instead of getting in touch with British police, she actually called authorities in the United States.

The hit and run took place in Barnstaple, England, so naturally, the woman asked Cortana to “call police in Barnstaple.” The personal assistant quickly started the call, but instead of connecting the woman to police in Barnstaple, England, it called the police in Barnstable, Massachusetts. And the woman had no idea about it.

“Hello, yes, I was driving back from Barnstaple to Muddiford. Coming out through Muddiford, coming up toward Ilfracombe, where the sharp bend is and you’ve got the farm on the side, he went over the white line and actually hit the car,” she told the dispatcher according to GlobalNews.

“Our response time is going to be about six hours”

Unsurprisingly, the dispatcher working for the police department had no idea where the caller was and was unable to locate her on the map.

“Where are you?” she first asked. “Alright, can you give me a landmark?” she then continued, trying to locate her, while also adding that “I’m having a little trouble hearing you.”

After trying a few more times to provide more details and landmarks about her location, the woman involved in the car crash asks: “Where have I called?” Here’s the rest of the conversation:

Operator: You’ve called the Barnstable Police Department. Caller: Yeah. Operator: In Massachusetts. Caller: In Massachusetts? Operator: Yes, Massachusetts. Caller: There’s no way you can help me then from there. Operator: Where exactly are you calling from? Caller: England. Operator: I’m sorry, but our response time is going to be about six hours.

And in case you’re wondering why exactly the dispatcher couldn’t hear the woman clearly enough, it was because she had a British accent. Good job, Cortana!

Thanks for the tip, Jer!