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.