Core77

Sign In / Join Now

Ford adding social networking to cars

By Rain Noe - January 7, 2010

in Object Culture

The future is on the way. By 2015, you'll be able to read such thrilling Tweets and Facebook updates as

- "just shifted from 3rd to 4th gear"

- "now changing lanes"

- "need gas LOL"

That's right: Ford is adding social networking to their cars via touchscreen and steering wheel controls.

Derrick Kuzak, Ford's product development chief, told reporters on Jan. 4 that "we are intent on maintaining leadership in this kind of connectivity. We saw people becoming addicted to connectivity and we saw increased use of these devices inside the car and we connected the dots."

...Ford said it's augmenting Sync with the ability to convert incoming texts into spoken words. It will offer drivers 15 standard text responses that can be sent with a voice command. Ford is still researching the ability to convert speech to a text message, said Jim Buczkowski, its director of electronics.

Here's the part that gets us:

"Most of the industry studies show that just driving and just talking is the same," Kuzak said. "As long as the customer's eyes are on the road, they are not compromised."

Yyyyeah...we don't think that's true.

via businessweek

o

Favorite This
Q
9

Comment

Comments

New Cars

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

so that means you are not alone while driving cars.... tweets always follow you & your facebook profile help you to drive long way & night drive also..lol
seems very good way to attract people to take this car..
!Report as spam
Atv tires

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

These was fantastic all Ford cars with this technology but disadvantages this technology way others drivers on road could know to avoid these cars because of the increased probability for unsafe driving!
!Report as spam
Used cars

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

hope that people wont miss use it and it will lead to road accidents ...nice thing to have Facebook when you are watin for some one or taking hault..
!Report as spam
Jeffy smith

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

it is great to have Facebook available with ford because while sitting in car we may get bore some times ..but hope people won't misuse it to access FB while driving car ..
!Report as spam
Jack Willson

14 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

It is really a great idea and one this feature is achieved than goodwill and demand of ford cars will surely be on top and i am sure ford has the potential and will achieve this target.
All the best.
!Report as spam
Zach

14 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

If Volkswagen or BMW had done this, you guys would be saying how amazing it is. It is your bias against American automakers that have you singing sour over this.
!Report as spam
JO

14 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This is the worst idea I have heard of all year.
!Report as spam
Jerry

14 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Did they ditch all of their Human Factors and Ergonomic personnel?

I'd like to see the performance loading results of the tasks to navigate while driving versus navigating while driving and talking.

FORD = Facebook over real design.
!Report as spam
DR

14 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

This amazes me! The company that almost went under by prolonging the trend of pointless oversized gas guzzling vehicles is now jumping on another horrible trend that makes driving more dangerous for others. Keep up the good work Ford!
!Report as spam