In-car Monitoring of Driver’s Health – from Ford

Driver’s health seams to be an important concern for Ford. Otherwise we cannot explain their ongoing activity of developing an in-car monitoring system which to help people with chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, asthma or allergies) – unless the 78 percent of U.S. consumers who expressed their interest in mobile health solutions, from a recent survey conducted by CTIA-The Wireless Association and Harris Interactive.

The system would empower people with self-help information while they drive, being the industry-first voice-controlled in-car connection. In order to succeed doing this, Ford uses Healthcare Experts Research SYNC Health, Wellness Connectivity Services and leading healthcare industry experts.

“Ford SYNC is well known in the industry and with consumers as a successful in-car infotainment system, but we want to broaden the paradigm, transforming SYNC into a tool that can help improve people’s lives as well as the driving experience.”

declared Paul Mascarenas, the chief technology officer and vice president at Ford Research and Innovation.

Combining Bluetooth, cloud services and Ford apps with some medical devices, a series of important health-related information and alerts can be provided, such as glucose level, allergies, all those being connected to the WellDoc platform. Ford’s innovating idea is to introduce this entire monitoring system in production process. In addition to all that we have already mentioned, the goal is the application to incorporate driver’s heart rate and stress levels, too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLqfhshd_A0[/youtube]

This could be really useful for auto makers in identifying driver’s stress sources while driving and try to improve, minimize or correct those issues.

What do you think about Ford’s initiative?

[Source: Autoblog, Photo]

Post tags: Tags: Ford, health monitoring system