Ford will bring Microsoft powered Sync in-car voice recognition to the UK next year

Microsoft's powerful speech recognition and text-to-speech technology will assist Ford drivers in the UK…

Source: google.com

            

An enhanced version will debut in the Ford Focus electric car

By Lee Bell

Thu Aug 30 2012, 19:15

BERLIN: AUTOMAKER Ford has announced that it will bring its in-car voice recognition technology called Sync to the UK next year in its Ford Focus electric car.

Announcing the news at the IFA electronics expo in Berlin today, MD of Ford Research Pim Van Der Jagt said an enhanced version of the software, which so far is employed only in cars in the US, will feature in the car when it debuts in Europe.

Ford Worked in partnership with Microsoft, which helped develop the software. Van Der Jagt said the next generation Sync software, dubbed My Ford Touch will “turn cars into mobile WiFi hotspots”.

My Ford Touch will use Bluetooth connectivity with a driver’s smartphone so that they can make hands free calls, but what Van Der Jagt described as unique was that drivers will be able to open text messages and warnings and read them via text-to-speech. “You can also automatically reply to it with voice control,” Van Der Jagt added.

Sync with My Ford Touch also introduces more voice commands on a large 9in interactive display, allowing the driver to download pictures, play videos (but only allowed while stationary), and add pictures to phone contacts as well as music album art so it is displayed while being played.

“The Sync voice control is best system around and will now come to the EU in nine major European languages,” Van Der Jagt said. “Whats different from previous generations is that it also understands natural voice speeds - say ‘play Bruce Springsteen’ and it will look into [its] library and play it.”

Along with the Sync and My Ford Touch software, there’s also an “Emergency Assistance” feaure bundled free of charge. If you get into an accident, it will automatically make an emergency call for you and tell the operator your location, asking for support to come.

Though Sync will be rolled out in Europe in the Ford Focus electric car to begin with, Ford insists this is just a starting point, and said it is preparing to launch Sync technology throughout its entire global portfolio.

“We hope to have nine million systems driving around globally by 2015,” Van Der Jagt added.

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Microsoft's powerful speech recognition and text-to-speech technology will assist Ford drivers in the UK… Source:  google.com              An enhanced version will debut in the Ford Focus electric car By Lee Bell Thu Aug 30 2012, 19:15 BERLIN: AUTOMAKER Ford has announced that it will bring its in-c ...