A lot of new cars today have voice command functionality, usually in their infotainment systems. This makes it easy for owners to perform simple tasks like make a call or change music tracks by simply uttering a command. But did you know that this is actually just the beginning?
Ford Motor Company predicts that in the future, a lot of new vehicles will offer voice recognition capabilities. By 20222, for instance, around 90% of cars will only respond to the voice of the owner. A great anthi-theft device, right? If you think that’s cool, what do you think aobut cars being able to tell if you’re in a bad mood?
Thanks to sophisticated microphones, along with machine learning voice recognition, gesture control, and facial recognition software, cars will soon be able to tell if their owners are in a cheery mood, having a lousy day, or the like—all using the tone of their voice and the expression on their face. This will enable them to respond accordingly by playing the right music, telling a joke, offering advice, or simply setting the appropriate mood lighting.
Beyond being a smart Alec, the future tech can actually help relieve stress and prevent accidents by letting the car take over if it senses that the driver is unfit to take the wheel. It is designed to lessen road rage and other forms of accident-causing behavior.
While this all sounds like science fiction, Ford’s Sync3 is taking the lead by introducing capabilities that will put us one step closer towards the cool cars of tomorrow. Later this year, for example, Sync3 will enable easy connectivity to Alexa—the Amazon Virtual Assistant. This allows drivers to set appointments or order takeout while on the go. Pretty soon, it is envisioned that cars will do this for you.
Yes, K.I.T.T. of the 1980s hit TV series Knight Rider might not be a pipe dream after all.
