Round-up from IFA: Based on our trip to IFA and walking this massive show — check out some highlights of concepts and gadgets that have the potential for affecting our daily lives — whether at home, work or play.
The debut of Ford's Sync at IFA 2011
Ford Chief Technology Officer Paul Mascarenas spoke at the IFA show in Berlin about the Evos concept car that debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 15.
If Ford is on track with its concept car – the car becomes the hub of the connected and interactive lifestyle through the cloud – and enables people the freedom to work not only from home, office or coffee store but also from their car. Like with other online services and commerce like from Amazon or iTunes, one inputs one’s preferences, musical tastes and general lifestyle choices and the car’s cloud will be equipped with software that analyses one’s life. The demonstration illustrated the connections in one’s daily lifestyle and choreographing one’s day based on the gathered information to improving business efficiency.
A person’s interaction with Ford’s demonstrated vision starts with the morning wakeup alarm and ‘it’ determining one’s daily itinerary including the best wake-up time based on current weather, traffic patterns and if one’s first morning meeting is delayed – to adjusting the temperature control at home when no one is there, warming-up the car and activating one’s favorite music, tracking and alerting you on the way as to traffic volumes, roadworks and other changeable conditions that can ruin or change plans. One may find that one can expect a smooth ride – so that ‘it’ can locate your friends in the area so that you can all meet at the local coffee house on the way to the office and know how much time one has to chat. Fuel consumption can also be anticipated, along with the location of suitable filling or recharging stations — and the best place to park near the office.
With its linkage to the workplace, it has been envisioned that the car is transformed into a cross between a chauffeur and a secretary — capable of addressing details such as one’s appointments, preferred ambient temperature, and launching applications – so that you are ready to go! The car can also take into account preferred mealtimes, or even restaurants, and changes to calendar entries involving additional or cancelled meetings.
The flaw in Ford’s concept is that it is understandably devised for the road warrior who virtually lives in their car, and it assumes a consistent data connection wherever you go. In most cities that should not be a problem, but elsewhere there could be a need to switch between Wi-Fi, the phone network and possibly a satellite service, and bill the driver accordingly.