Michael Clark provides us with some Ford news.

Picture1 300x225 Ford Adds Social Networking to Their CarsFord Motor Company is planning to promote social networking to their customers. The companies want to provide iPod-thumb controls and Web browsing into the majority of their new models in year 2015. This is in the works due to the heavy demand that consumers have for high-tech communicative features in their cars.

Touch-command systems

Lincoln MKX, Ford Focus and Ford Edges will be featuring touch-command systems this year. Ford is going to reveal My Ford Touch system in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show this year. The system features thumb-wheel controls located on the steering wheel, weather and navigation control functions, eight-inch television monitor with touch features in the dashboard and audio.

Kia Motors Corporation is introducing a similar system later on in the year in their Sorento model-cars. Both the Kia and Ford systems are based on the Microsoft Corp. MSFT’s in-car voice-activated technology. Most consumers view this technology as a new way of interacting with their cars.

Social Networking and driving

Introducing this new technology to consumers was only a matter of time, considering the amount of time consumers spend not only on the Internet but in their cars. Ford along with Kia found ample opportunity in establishing leadership with this type of connectivity for consumers. The Sync technology was a serious investment for Ford with viewing 32% of buyers taking advantage of the innovative software for their cars. This technology is now available on seventy-percent of Ford vehicles overall. The new My Ford Touch will become standard on the higher-end trucks, and cars. The Ford base models will feature a basic-touch screen.

Text conversion technology

Ford has begun augmenting Sync with the ability to adapt texts into spoken words. This proves beneficial for drivers who want to be safe while driving the open-road. It will give drivers standard text responses that can be transmitted with a mere voice command. You might be wondering at this point if the technology exists in converting speech to a text message. Ford is still researching the ability to accomplish this task, but consumers should expect such technology in the near future.

MapQuest and Twitter users

If you enjoy Twitter and MapQuest, Ford is incorporating the social network’s Open Beak software into their Synch technology. Ford is not stopping there with adding Stitcher and Pandora Internet radio along with MapQuest.com’s online mapping programs. Unbelievably, Ford has their own Web browser that can only be used when the car is parked. To produce the best technology possible to consumers, the automaker is allowing independent software developers to design new functions for the Sync technology.

Conclusion

One might think that Ford is ignoring driver safety with introducing these types of technology for consumers but, Ford has endorsed numerous legislations to support driver safety with outlawing texting while driving. Ford has also conducted their own research that indicates that hands-free communication does not distract drivers.


The post is contributed by Michael Clark. Michael gets inspired by technical, creative and genuine works. Visit his site for bijtelling berekenen and Auto leasen.