Ford brings social networking to the car
A group of students at the University of Michigan in the US have developed a series of applications for motorists based on social networking on the move.
The students took part in a 12-week course, initiated by Ford, to develop future in-car entertainment and information systems.
Six groups of students were given access to Ford's developmental software, known as Fiestaware, which allowed them to experiment with so-called 'cloud computing' and how motorists might use it on the go.
Each group developed applications, which included The GreenRide Challenge - a Facebook-led car sharing programme - and Fuel Tracker - an app that allows motorists to upload their driving habits and journey details and compare green driving tips with other users.
The winning application, Caravan Track, allows groups of vehicles travelling together to track each other throughout the journey. Users can contact fellow travellers on the move, check their fuel levels, speed and notify each other of hazards or hold-ups.
Caravan Track will run in a Ford Fiesta research car as part of the firm's American Journey 2.0 programme to develop future in-car technology.
Source: Yahoo