We like our gadgets at Blackcircles.com so we’re excited that 2012 is set to be the year when in-car wireless internet arrives in the Ford Focus, paving the way for an introduction across popular car brands.
Ford’s entry into the in-car WiFi market has been followed by rival car manufacturer Toyota which recently partnered with Microsoft to develop in-car access to internet services.
Until now, in-car WiFi has only been available in luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes, and Ford will be the first to offer the technology in a family-oriented vehicle under £16,000.
Through Ford’s SYNC with MyFord Touch technology, Focus owners and passengers will be able to access a secure wireless internet connection in-car, at no additional cost, if they use a USB modem or smartphone connection.
Speculation about what we can expect from in-car technology has been rife in recent years. Casting their imagination forward 50 years, enthusiastic technology gurus have predicted a semi-organic interface of man and machine will emerge.
The skins of these future cars will be stretched over the vehicle like a silk stocking, adjusting dynamically according to load – expanding to accommodate four passengers, contracting to envelop the single driver. And they will be fast with automated highway systems enabling cars to safely exceed the speed of today’s bullet trains.
As Ford emerges as the leader in the introduction of WiFi to the mass motoring market, Blackcircles.com took the opportunity to catch up with Jim Buczkowski, Ford’s Director of Electronics Research, to see how he thought in-car technology would develop over the next 20 years.
“Having WiFi in the car enables new capabilities improving both safety and convenience for the driver. Ford is working on vehicle-to-vehicle technology which uses WiFi allowing cars to ‘talk’ to each other warning about potential accidents or even taking a step toward autonomous driving.”
