Ford develops SYNC 3

• Ford has revealed the next-generation of its SYNC infotainment system. The SYNC 3, according to the carmaker, is now faster, has improved voice recognition, comes with a smartphone-like touchscreen and features, and an easier-to-understand user interface. “Reducing the number of things on-screen also makes control easier and is designed to limit the number of times a driver has to glance at the screen,” said Parrish Hanna, Ford global director of Human Machine Interface.

• In order to promote easy usage, there are dedicated touch buttons for audio, phone, navigation, climate, apps and settings. The touchscreen is bright, and is receptive to smartphone-like controls such as pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures. The large buttons come with high-contrast fonts to enable clarity in sunlight, while at night, the system automatically changes to a dark background to reduce reflection on windows and avoid eye fatigue.

•  “We considered all the modern smartphones and mobile operating systems and created something familiar but unique,” said Hanna.