{"id":7497,"date":"2012-08-04T07:22:56","date_gmt":"2012-08-04T00:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=7497"},"modified":"2012-08-08T00:17:37","modified_gmt":"2012-08-07T17:17:37","slug":"unbelievable-car-features-now-and-in-fords-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/unbelievable-car-features-now-and-in-fords-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Unbelievable Car Features Now and in Ford’s Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lori Cunningham (@wellconnectdmom)\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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It’s no surprise, technology has always been a passion of mine. I bought my first Ford a couple of years ago mostly because it had a Microsoft powered computer in it, called SYNC. \u00a0I’m a big Microsoft fan. \u00a0I loved how it integrated calling, subscription radio, navigation, DVDs, USB, and voice activation into the car. \u00a0Having a built-in navigational system like SNYC is like having powered windows…once you get them, you can never imagine going back to a car without it.<\/p>\n

SNYC is now standard on 90% of the cars Ford sells. \u00a0For those cars without SYNC, the cost is $295 to upgrade. \u00a0SYNC is available in four flavors from basic SYNC to SYNC myFord Touch, the most advanced model.<\/p>\n

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MyFord Touch<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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The new \u00a0myFord Touch<\/a> (with SYNC powering it), surpasses previous features of the SYNC by enhancing and simplifying its voice activation, navigation, and user interface. \u00a0 \u00a0I had the opportunity to play with myFord Touch a couple of times during the Go Forward with Ford even<\/a>t and found it very easy-to-use and better integrated. \u00a0The user interface of the screen is simplified and appealing. \u00a0The myFord Touch offers an 8 inch screen with WiFi, two USB’s, and a RCA plug. \u00a0It can actually act as a router, providing wireless service to all cellphone users in the car.<\/p>\n

MyFord Touch offers turn-by-turn SYNC premium\u00a0services\u00a0like voice search, operator assistance, traffic, and personalized information for free for the first 3 years. \u00a0There after, these\u00a0services\u00a0are $60\/yr. \u00a0Basic navigation, voice calling, and cellphone integration will remain free.<\/p>\n

During the Go Forward with Ford event<\/a>, Ford talked about how they are architecting their car technology to make it more flexible to\u00a0amend\u00a0with these changing digital times. \u00a0Utilizing cloud services will help them to do this.<\/p>\n

Moving to the Cloud<\/strong>\u00a0–\u00a0Ford wisely foresees that building and upgrading to a better computer system behind myFord Touch does not benefit their current Ford customers.\u00a0 No one wants to spend a lot of money on a car with an excellent computer system only to find it’s outdated a year later.<\/p>\n

By moving the processing power to the cloud, Ford can take advantage of apps that work with favorite apps on our phone to provide a seamless use of our favorite apps from home to car.\u00a0 For example, in the car you can say “Pandora” and you can access your favorite personal stations verbally from your phone.<\/p>\n

With Ford’s forthcoming AppLink, software upgrades will allow drivers to keep updated with the latest apps and features without having to buy a new car. \u00a0MyFord Touch Apps already integrated with many cellphones include iHeartRadio, Pandora, Stitcher, Slacker, MOG, NPR, Orangatame OpenBeak (a twitter based program that reads you your tweets), and SYNC destinations (traffic\/directions). \u00a0\u00a0Talk about a great way for Ford to build loyalty with their customers.<\/p>\n

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Upcoming Features in Research and Development\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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There are some fun up and\u00a0coming\u00a0possibilities available from Ford in their future cares:<\/p>\n

More Commands, More\u00a0Possibilities\u00a0–\u00a0<\/strong>Translation services using Nuance voice recognition Google\u00a0 translation can be accessed from the cloud to translate your language to be understood from myFord Touch.\u00a0 Say you’re traveling and you don’t know the language.\u00a0 A car equipped with myFord Touch will make finding your way around a foreign city much more enjoyable.<\/p>\n

Talk Your Text – <\/strong>With the increasing capabilities of Ford’s partner, Nuance, voice recognition is getting more and more reliable.\u00a0 With your smartphone connected to your car via Bluetooth, you will be alerted by myFord Touch when an incoming text arrives to your phone.\u00a0 It will than proceed to read your text to you.\u00a0 Better yet, you can reply by your voice.\u00a0 This technology has been around for a short time but is becoming much more effective.<\/p>\n

Bio-metric<\/strong>\u00a0Measures –\u00a0<\/strong>Now this is fascinating<\/span><\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 By measuring driver reaction, Ford can gleam a lot about stressful situations.\u00a0 Ford’s motto behind their advancing in-dash technology is \u201chands on the wheel, eyes on the road<\/em><\/span>.\u201d\u00a0 Ford recognizes people are checking their texts, which\u00a0 can cause possible collisions.\u00a0 People like to be informed at all times and changing this habit unlikely.\u00a0 But even if the text message is voiced to the driver, it can come at a very inopportune time.\u00a0 Ford has researched that when a driver makes a lane change, is getting on a freeway, or merging, these can be stressful times for the driver.<\/p>\n

Ford hopes to minimize driver distractions during these crucial times by assessing\u00a0when the driver could be in the middle of one and delay the delivery of a text message.\u00a0 The text message will be delivered once the stressful moment ceases.<\/p>\n

How can Ford tell a stressful moment?\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n