As befits a nonhuman, mechanical device like a watch.

Which makes it sound like the watch fell, not me

Given the consensus understanding of physics and gravity, it did. It just so happened that it was attached to a larger thing that also fell, and the larger thing likely either knows it and can comprehend this message trivially, or does not and summoning help is the proper action to take.

Reminder that the screen is a false positive protection mechanism and will only ever be seen in a specific context.

Sorry, but that's just a pedantic take when we're discussing what is the best UI /UX for wearers to know how to instinctively react in a possibly stressful moment.

You have to solve for the lowest common denominator, not the hacker's technically correct preference.

This ain't about the watch falling, it's about someone possibly needing to call emergency services and contacts when they're hurt. "I'm OK" is a great prompt in that context, even if it's not an explicitly accurate response to whether the watch or wearer fell (which in turn is why the focus is not on the fall but on their need for help).

There also must be some joke about special relativity hidden in that wearer-and-their-watch-falling incident.

> the larger thing likely either knows [about the fall] and can comprehend this message trivially, or does not and summoning help is the proper action to take.

You did say "likely" but to provide an example: skiers who know they fell cannot comprehend the message trivially (not having noticed it's existence) and summoning help is often not the proper action to take. Call centers serving ski towns are swamped with false positives due to this issue.

Are you imagining someone who, having just fallen while wearing their Apple Watch, wondering whether they or their watch fell when their watch says, “fall detected” While they lay on the floor?

I'm imagining a scenario in which someone who, having just fallen while wearing their Apple Watch, concludes the watch is talking about itself when it says "fall detected" and they will have to have it repaired

"Fall detected. Call 911?"

“Why is my watching asking me to call 911 to get it repaired? My hip is broken!”

I can’t tell if you’re trolling me or not but I’ll assume you’re not.

If you’re laying on the floor I think you’ll know who fell.

If you didn’t fall, then you know it’s wrong.

But the watch didn't detect a fall. The watch saw signals and data points and thinks it could be a fall. Saying "Fall detected" is too confident and not a reflection of the feature.

You’re right. Better explain all that to the user of the watch who is laying on the floor.

If they are not laying in the floor then they already know it’s wrong.

"Fall detected. Call 911?"

“Huh? No, I didn’t fall. Don’t call 911”

Or

“I did fall, but I’m fine. Don’t call 911”

Maybe you can explain to the user of the watch who didn't fall but the Watch suddenly says "Fall detected".

Apple's version is better. It's more accurate of what the feature does (guessing based on factors), and it's more human.