As in-car technology advances, not only can we control vehicle functions from our home, but we can now control our home components from our car. The Ford Motor Company is excited to announce the collaboration with Automatic Labs, manufacturer of the smart phone mobile driving assistant app. The acquisition will introduce Siri and an app called IFTTT, to affiliated vehicles both old and new.
Automatic Labs, a San Francisco based company, prides itself in creating an app and accessory that allocates automobile technology of the future to older cars. The accessory connects to a car’s data port, and makes available vital information that gives the driver feedback and score, to help them become more consistent in braking, accelerating and cruising. It also records driver history, MPG, and keeps track of gas prices. The app has a crash alert feature that alerts loved ones and emergency services in the event of an accident and it has a do not disturb feature which silences the user’s phone in route. The app also retrieves check engine codes and presents a list of nearby mechanics. It is used to help drivers remember where they parked and even assists in road trip mapping, visualization and expense tracking.
With Automatic Labs newly formed relationship with Ford, however, the technology is taking user experience to a whole new level. Siri integration allows Lincoln and Ford drivers to access all the familiar personal assistant commands through a push-to-talk button located on the steering wheel. This enhances safety and driver experience by allowing one to surf the web, send a text message, launch music playlists, respond to email or make calls, all while keeping both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road.
Connectivity with IFTTT, an app which name is short for If This Than That, allows users to create conditional commands between services and devices. Users can program IFTTT to pull information from different sources and create what the app calls a “recipe.” Each recipe contains a trigger and then an action. For example, a user can program their vehicle with the trigger of pulling into driveway and then the action of alerting friends and family that they have arrived to their destination safely. Another example is to signal the vehicle that you are driving home and your thermostat in your house will automatically adjust itself to preferred climate.
According to sources, the app will be introduced at $99.95, and it will roll-out as an iOS 8 only app, grandfathering Ford and Lincoln models 2011 and newer. The app will reportedly be available online in October or November of 2014.
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