As States Mull Bans, Ford Improves SYNC to
Give Drivers Safer Alternatives to Hand-Held Texting
DEARBORN, Mich/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- -- Ford adds "Do Not Disturb" button to block incoming calls and texts on
new MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles and proactive feature content
"lock-outs" to encourage use of voice control
-- In addition, Ford integrates new Bluetooth Message Access Profile
(MAP) into SYNC for all MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles so more drivers
can have texts read aloud to them while driving
-- Research In Motion (RIM), maker of BlackBerry smartphones, plans to
adopt MAP and enable SYNC audible text messaging capability to work
with all new smartphones; Ford urges other phone manufacturers to
follow
As the issue of texting while driving grows in prominence nationally,
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
is expanding its SYNC technology with new features to give drivers
safer alternatives to hand-held texting and keep them more focused on
the road.
To help make the in-car connection safer, Ford is improving the SYNC
text message readback feature and empowering drivers with a "Do Not
Disturb" button so they can decide the level of connectivity and
communications they want to manage while in the car. Ford is also taking
the proactive step to "lock-out" capabilities that are not relevant to
the task of driving while the vehicle is in motion.
"Text messaging has become the default communications method for
consumers of all ages," said John Schneider, chief engineer, Ford
multimedia and infotainment engineering. "The power of SYNC voice
control combined with Ford's latest connectivity improvements will
reduce the temptation to pick up the phone and take your eyes off the
road, providing a safer solution for the use of mobile devices in the
car."
Ford believes drivers should keep their eyes on the road and hands on
the wheel and was the first automaker to support a proposed federal ban
and state-level legislation banning hand-held texting while driving. In
turn, Ford also understands that drivers want to be connected to their
mobile worlds while on the road, and texting continues to grow as a
preferred communication method. According to a new poll from the Pew
Internet and American Life Project, for example, approximately one in
four (27%) American adults and driving age teens (26%) admit to texting
while driving.
Ford will offer the new features on 2011 model year vehicles equipped
with MyFord or MyLincoln Touch, the intuitive driver connect technology
that provides drivers personalized access to information and
entertainment through voice control, touch screens and familiar five-way
controls mounted on the steering wheel.
Bluetooth MAP
Bluetooth is the standard technology that allows electronic devices
such as a mobile phone and Ford SYNC to communicate with each other
wirelessly. To improve the number of phones that can "communicate" with
SYNC so the system can read aloud incoming text messages to drivers,
Ford has adopted the latest Bluetooth standard - Message Access Profile
(MAP).
"Today, only a small population of phones have the capability to work
with the text message readback feature of SYNC," added Schneider. "With
MAP technology, even more drivers will be able to use SYNC to listen to
text messages."
Defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the MAP
standard outlines a set of features and procedures used to exchange
email, SMS, and MMS messages between devices. It is tailored to the
automotive hands-free environment where an onboard terminal device - in
this case, SYNC - takes advantage of the messaging capability of a
communications device, such as a BlackBerry smartphone.
The Bluetooth SIG recommendations are considered benchmarks, but
they're not industry requirements. Ford has elected to implement the MAP
to signal support for the protocol and encourage additional mobile
device manufacturers to add the capability in their products.
"It's only through acceptance of common standards industry-wide that
key technologies can be adapted to the in-vehicle environment," said
Schneider. "We're hoping to encourage the adoption of MAP so more
customers - and more mobile devices - can successfully use the
innovative features SYNC has to offer, helping reduce the problem of
driver distraction."
According to a 100-car study conducted by Virginia Tech
Transportation Institute, driver inattention that involved looking away
from the road for more than a few seconds was a factor in nearly 80
percent of accidents. By providing drivers with the ability to receive
audible, hands-free texts, Ford is hoping to help drivers focus on the
task of driving.
Ford is already working with Research In Motion (RIM) and supports
the company's intention to begin implementing it in all new BlackBerry
smartphones.
"RIM plans to implement MAP on BlackBerry smartphones moving forward
and we are pleased to work with Ford in an effort to foster
industry-wide adoption and standardization," said Andrew Bocking, Vice
President, Handheld Software Product Management at Research In Motion.
"Do Not Disturb" and locked features
Ford has also proactively designed the MyFord and MyLincoln Touch
driver connect system to give drivers more control of how they manage
communications while in the car. Screens can be personalized to display
information relevant to an individual driver using a simple button
click, voice command or touch-screen tap.
The new 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will be first to offer the "Do
Not Disturb" button. This handy feature blocks incoming phone calls or
text messages from a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone paired with SYNC;
diverting calls into voicemail and saving text messages on the device
for viewing later. But unlike turning the phone off, drivers can still
make voice-activated outgoing phone calls, if they so decide, and the
SYNC 911 Assist feature can make a call to 911 in case of emergency.
In addition, Ford continues to limit access to a variety of
communication features while the vehicle is in motion, thus encouraging
drivers to use voice commands if they wish to access the function.
Ford is also taking the proactive step of locking out or limiting
content and capabilities of MyFord Touch that are not related to the
task of driving when the vehicle is in motion, for instance:
-- Screens with information not intended to be used by the driver while
driving such as point-of-interest reviews and ratings plus SIRIUS
Travel Link sports scores, movie listings, and ski conditions
-- Any action that requires typing on a keypad (e.g. typing a navigation
destination, editing information)
-- Limiting lists of navigation and phone choices that the user can view
to fewer entries (e.g. phone contacts, recent phone call entries)
Specific functions that are locked out when the vehicle is in motion:
-- Cell Phone
-- Pairing a Bluetooth-capable phone
-- Manually adding individual contacts into the Phonebook
-- Viewing received text messages on screen
-- WiFi Connectivity
-- Web browsing on the vehicle screen
-- Video/Photos/Graphics
-- Playing video
-- Album cover art and Phonebook photo browsing
-- Editing photos
-- Editing the screen's wallpaper or adding a new one
-- Navigation
-- Destination entry by touchscreen keyboard input (voice entry is
permissible)
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide,
the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury,
production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in
the fourth quarter of 2010, and, until its sale, Volvo. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols
are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion
Limited. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no
representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any
aspect of any third party products or services.
Source: Ford Motor Company
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