Cars + Trucks
MyFord: Ford’s New Cabin Tech Interface
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A few weeks ago the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place as usual in Las Vegas, Nevada. For those who are not familiar with CES, it is a gathering of the world’s technology giants who display their latest and greatest gadgets for the entire world to see. The week-long show usually draws easily over one hundred thousand people and needless to say, this year’s show did not disappoint in terms of attendance or new gadgetry. Arguably the most innovative class of gadgetry at CES over the past decade has been in the automotive arena. A lot of the gadgets in your car or truck today were more than likely once featured at CES in the past. One gadget that many Ford enthusiasts will soon find in their autos is Ford’s latest cabin tech interface entitled “MyFord.” Let’s find out how Ford continues their technological innovation.
Screens Galore
Those who own a Ford Fusion hybrid may be familiar with the basic set up that we’ll be discussing, but as you will see, the new cabin tech interface takes a giant leap ahead of its predecessor. The standard “MyFord” option will encompass two 4.2 inch LCD screens. One screen will be mounted in the centre of the dash, while the second screen can be found near the speedometer. Those who are a bit picky about their cabin technology can upgrade to “MyFord Touch.” Instead of two LCD screens, you’ll now have three touch LCD screens. Two touch screens will be mounted near the speedometer, while an eye catching eight inch touch screen will be mounted in the dash.
Needless to say, if you cannot stand to be away from your technological items for too long, you’ll be right at home in your Ford.
Information And Convenience Central
Regardless of whether or not you chose the “MyFord” or the “MyFord Touch” option, you’ll soon find a plethora of information about your car or truck, as well as a whole new world of convenience behind the wheel. The LCD screens near the speedometer will tell you everything you need to know about your auto through a customizable tachometer, check engine notifications (hopefully it will actually give you a code or tell you what the problem is), temperature gauges, gear identification, odometer information and much more. The more information you know about your auto, the better.
The LCD mounted in the dash will provide a wealth of convenience for those who basically live in their car or truck throughout the work week. Instead of having to flip through various screens to find what you are looking for, Ford has minimized the amount of time and distraction a driver faces while attempting to locate a contact, for example. Ford did this by using a simple colour configuration to show the driver what option they are currently using and what other options are available. The colour configuration includes orange for phone, green for navigation, red for music and blue for climate control.
Besides these features, “MyFord” will come equipped with all of the other gadgets that you would expect to find in a modern auto. These gadgets include Bluetooth, hard drive storage, Sirius, HD Radio, iPod connectivity and much more.
Isn’t All Of This A Bit Distracting?
Regardless of whether you prefer Ford or any other brand, the obvious trend over the past few years has been for automakers to pack their autos full of the latest technology. In theory, technology is supposed to make our lives easier and, for the most part, it has. But many inside and outside of the automotive industry are concerned about the potential safety risks that all of this technology offers by way of distracting the driver. After all, many provinces and states now have laws in place that ban the use of cell phones while driving because real life experience and studies have shown that cell phones distract the driver from driving safely, which in turn puts their lives and the lives of others on the road at risk.
Know Your Limits
There is no doubt that all of this new technology is distracting to most drivers, at least to a degree. Yet, we’ll probably see more and more technology being packed into vehicles as time passes. The obvious way to combat such distraction is to use common sense, plain and simple. If you want to make a call or change your GPS route, for example, wait until you are at a red light or, even better, take care of it before you enter the roadway. We all have different limits in terms of what we find distracting so it is vital that you figure out your limits in this regard and do not stray outside of them.
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