Category Archives: Technology

A Guide to the Ford SYNC System – Hands-Free Calls, Navigation, and Entertainment Using Voice Commands

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By Bob Simmons

Ford Sync

Ford Sync was first offered with the 2008 Ford Focus.

Many Ford models now have the option of the SYNC system which is this automaker’s own-brand factory-installed communications and entertainment system that fits seamlessly into the dash, giving the driver a huge array of options at the touch of a button. It’s possible to make telephone calls using hands-free Bluetooth technology, play your digital music files, and some versions even offer on-screen navigation to help you route from A to B. An overview of the available functionality is set-out below followed by more detailed information.

  • Mobile Phone Integration
  • Entertainment Functions
  • Voice-Activated Navigation

Model Application

The system has been available in 14 Ford models beginning with the Focus in 2008, allowing connectivity with your friends and family due to the ability to synchronize your Smartphone to the display. The hands-free aspects to SYNC are probably the most valuable because this helps to reduce the chances of driver distraction while using a phone while driving – which in some countries is now legally banned. According to research from 2010, some 27 percent admit that they are prone to sending an SMS from their phone while behind the wheel – which inevitably can be extremely dangerous. This is where the Ford SYNC system can help.

Ford worked with Microsoft to develop the system so that the driver can operate their Smartphone by using voice commands or buttons on the steering wheel. Once the system is set-up to work in tandem with the driver’s phone (which is set into a small docking bay) it is possible to receive SMS and text messages to the SYNC system which then reads them out loud from the dashboard.

Ford Sync

Microsoft technology powers the Ford Sync.

Full Synchronization

Not only that, it is also possible to control all your music by speech. This takes away the issue of having to reach to the dashboard and start trying to turn various dials and push buttons like you would do on a traditional in-car entertainment system. Drivers can synchronize their digital music player to the SYNC using USB or Bluetooth and then speak the commands back to the SYNC to find, browse and play through their music files – plus you can adjust volumes – while never having to let go of the steering wheel.

The optional navigation aspect to the SYNC device is provided by the world’s best selling GPS company, otherwise known as Garmin. The Garmin integration allows for voice-activated navigation which lets the driver operate a full-color display containing 3D mapping and landmark icons. In addition, the system contains a database with millions of POI files. POIs are also known as “points of interest” locations that let the driver search for amenities close to them which can then be navigated to. For example, it would be possible to find hospitals, tourist attractions, and shopping areas simply by interacting with the system using your voice.

Third-Party Applications

Interestingly it is also possible for third-party companies to develop applications to work on the Ford SYNC system. Some applications already approved to be used via the Smartphone and SYNC link are apps such as a Twitter reader and even an API for Facebook integration.

Author Information

Bob Simmons currently drives a 2010 Ford F-150 and has owned over 10 Fords since the 1980s. He also runs a successful website which publishes information on how you can update the navigation system in your car for when you need new maps. If you want to know more about how you can get the most up to date maps for your Ford SYNC then please refer to the Ford Navigation Update section on his website. Please note that he also frequently publishes new Ford Navigation Coupon Code offers on behalf of manufacturers which give Ford customers money-off opportunities for when purchasing new Navteq update DVDs.

Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

Would You Like Recycled Bottles With That?

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Recycled materials and the Ford Escape.

The Ford Motor Company has taken recycling to a whole new level. In this case, its recycling efforts may be right underneath your foot. Literally.

What Ford has done is to use recycled bottles, 25 of them, in the carpeting of its next generation Ford Escape SUV. That vehicle is set to debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show later this month, a vehicle that will be lighter and more efficient than the current Escape and help keep 4 million bottles out of landfills nationwide. The 2013 Ford Escape goes on sale early next year.

Polyester Fibers

Ford is using 25 20-ounce plastic bottles as one of the “ingredients” in its carpeting, polyester fibers that were created from used soda pop bottles. The crunched up bottles are mixed in with other components to make for a carpet that Ford says is more durable and therefore should last longer.

All materials used in Ford vehicles, including carpeting, must pass extensive durability tests. A team of engineers looks for “chalking” during these tests — a sign where fibers degrade and mash together, forming a white residue as they break apart. Chalking, which is also known as dusting, is a telltale sign that a hole is forming in the carpet.

Taber 5150

Ford engineers use a device called a Taber 5150, which resembles a record player. Engineers take a carpet sample that is about the size of a DVD and place it in the middle of the machine. The Taber 5150 rotates while a pair of weights rub the sample to simulate accelerated wear. Within 10 to 15 minutes, the engineers can simulate five years of normal use.

Cast foam will also help to limit carpet wear, backing that is useful for reducing road noise and useful for filling in ridges and crevices for a smoother look. The recycled bottle carpeting is supplied by Autoneum and is produced at its plant in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Other Initiatives

The Ford Escape isn’t the first vehicle the automaker has produced that makes use of recycled materials. The seats in the Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan use soy-based foam seat cushions that are covered in recycled fabric. Ford made the switch from polyurethane foam, an oil-based product, to soybean-based foam, a move that has enabled the automaker to reduce fuel consumption and cut carbon emissions. These materials are used in seats found in various Ford and Lincoln products including the Ford F-150 and the Lincoln Navigator.

Source — Ford Motor Company: Recycled Plastic Bottles Find New Use in Carpeting of Next Ford Escape; October 20, 2011

Matthew C. Keegan is editor and publisher of “Auto Trends Magazine.” Matt is also a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport and affiliated websites, an aftermarket supplier of quality auto parts including Ford Aerostar parts and Ford Expedition parts.

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