A new study shows that Ford’s SYNC hands-free system1 significantly reduces the level of distraction when drivers select a phone number or choose a song on their MP3player compared with the same operations with handheld cell phones and music players.
For example, the research conducted by Ford Motor Company shows study participants spent an average of 25 seconds with their eyes off the road to select a song with a handheld MP3 player as compared with 2 seconds for those choosing a song using SYNC.
Ford recently completed a driving simulator study with 25 participants who are regular SYNC users to compare driver performance and eye glance behavior effects of tasks performed using SYNC’s voice interface as compared to using nomadic devices with visual-manual interfaces.
Test participants performed seven typical tasks using SYNC’s voice interface and their personal handheld phones and music players. The tasks included dialing a 10-digit number, calling a specific person from the digital phonebook, receiving a call while driving, playing a specific song, and reviewing and responding to text messages. For each task, Ford researchers measured the total time eyes were off the road, deviation of lane position, speed variability, and object detection response time to identify differences in attentiveness and driving performance while using basic functions.
“We know people want to stay connected in their vehicles, so Ford is continuing to deliver that connectivity for them responsibly and safely,” says Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Our SYNC research backs up what most of us instinctively know – that it is better while driving to place a call using a voice interface than dialing manually because you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”
Ford’s researchers found that the distraction potential for most tasks was significantly minimized when the SYNC voice interface was used as compared to the manual entry required for handheld devices. For example, reading a text message on a handheld phone typically took the driver’s eyes off the road for 11 seconds compared to about 2 seconds when listening to the text message with SYNC's text-to-speech output. Drivers also meandered over lane lines in more than 30 percent of trials using handheld phones and music players for song, artist, and phone book contact selection, as compared to zero percent when performing those same tasks with SYNC.
Ford’s study results are consistent with prior research, such as Virginia Tech and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent driving study, which followed 109 drivers for one year, including 42,300 hours of driving over two million miles. That study concluded that manually dialing a handheld device -- a task that requires looking away from the road -- while driving was almost 2.8 times riskier than normal driving. However, the on-the-road study showed that talking/listening on a phone while driving was no riskier than normal driving.
“These real-world results indicate that SYNC’s voice-interface offers substantial advantages compared to using a handheld device to do the same task,” says Dr. Louis Tijerina, Ford senior technical specialist.
SYNC success soars
SYNC, which recently earned Popular Mechanics’ Editor’s Choice Award for best new products at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, allows consumers to connect almost any mobile phone or digital media player with their vehicle (via Bluetooth or USB connection). The driver is able to operate them by using voice commands and a steering wheel-mounted control.
The success of SYNC continues to grow. By summer 2009, Ford’s entire North American lineup will offer this technology with more than 1 million SYNC-equipped vehicles on the road by the third quarter of 2009. Ford, working with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, helped develop guidelines for new telematics and infotainment systems. The voluntary guidelines set limits to the eyes-off-road time required to complete visual-manual tasks. Even though SYNC is a voice-based system, its visual-manual components covered by the Alliance guidelines were tested to ensure they meet the distraction requirements.
“Ford is committed to addressing driver distraction research and testing, and implementing our findings in safety and advanced infotainment systems throughout our vehicle lines,” says John Shutko, Ford technical specialist in Human Factors and Ergonomics. “We know that customers are increasingly using telematics devices while driving their vehicles, and studies show voice-activated systems like SYNC offer significant safety benefits over handheld manual devices. If people are going to use nomadic devices, Ford Motor Company wants to offer our customers a safer way to use them through SYNC.”
SYNC gets more safety, fuel-saving, distraction-reducing features
Ford is expanding its connectivity leadership by introducing SYNC’s new 911 Assist™ feature2 that adds post-crash emergency assistance, and new traffic updates, directions and related driving information to help drivers save time and fuel while reducing distraction.
SYNC’s new 911 Assist feature will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of an airbag deployment. When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC – which is designed to happen every time the driver enters the vehicle with his or her cell phone – the system will be ready to assist in placing a call to a local 911 emergency operator should an airbag-deploying accident occur.
“With SYNC, and specifically with the 911 Assist feature, we will be providing our customers an extra layer of security and peace of mind,” Cischke says.
Ford’s next-generation SYNC with traffic, directions and information features leverages industry-leading voice-recognition software, integrated GPS and Bluetooth®-capable phones. Debuting this spring, it will provide simple hands-free access to personalized traffic reports, precise driving directions and up-to-date information, including business listings, news, sports and weather.
Customers won’t have to spend significant time with eyes off the road and hands off the wheel searching for this information on their radios, maps or other telematic devices. Driving safety can be improved when customers can retrieve this information quickly and efficiently using simple voice commands.
The new services will be available on nearly all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models with no initial monthly subscription fees, thanks to three years of service included with a new vehicle purchase.
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