computer science

MyFord Touch

MyFord Touch is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand MyFord Touch rather than just read about it. In short: MyFord Touch (branded as MyLincoln Touch on Ford's Lincoln brand products, and also known as SYNC 2) is an in-car communications and entertainment system developed by the Ford Motor Company, based on Microsoft technologies. The technology was factory installed with Ford product offerings and was based on the Microsoft Auto 4.0 software platform.

Key takeaways

MyFord Touch belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect MyFord Touch to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of MyFord Touch from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

MyFord Touch (branded as MyLincoln Touch on Ford's Lincoln brand products, and also known as SYNC 2) is an in-car communications and entertainment system developed by the Ford Motor Company, based on Microsoft technologies. The technology was factory installed with Ford product offerings and was based on the Microsoft Auto 4.0 software platform. It was regarded as the next-generation of Ford Sync. Announced in January 2010, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the technology launched with the 2011 Ford Edge. Reviews of MyFord Touch were overwhelmingly negative. A USB drive, self-installed software upgrade became available in March, 2012; this update was mailed out free-of-charge to all Ford customers, and Ford also offered free installation of the update by any Ford dealer. The update did not address continuing problems with light-touch capacitor switches (on cars so equipped) that control many functions. Several updates have since been released which allowed for more natural speech recognition, simpler Bluetooth pairing, and refinement of the on-screen interface and menus.

Overview MyFord Touch promised to enable drivers of Ford cars to seamlessly integrate nearly all mobile phones, PDAs and digital media players into their cars. Operation of these devices, utilizing advanced Ford Sync functionality, was performed using voice commands, touch-screen inputs, the vehicle's steering wheel, radio controls, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. MyFord Touch is also capable of receiving text messages and reading these text messages aloud to occupants of the car. Fulfillment of the system's promise has fallen short, with thousands of MyFord Touch owners complaining that the system is unreliable, that it crashes without warning, that it fails to respond to commands, and that it fails to integrate with common mobile devices, such as the iPhone. Ford reliability ratings, both by Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, have plummeted because of the defects in the MyFord Touch system, and Consumer Reports recommends that new car buyers not consider Ford or Lincoln models equipped with MyFord Touch or MyLincoln Touch. As a stand-alone option, the MSRP for MyFord Touch is $1,000. Purchasers of this option get the MyFord Touch system with two driver-configurable 4.2" color LCD displays in the gauge cluster, one 8" color LCD touch screen in the center stack, a media hub with 2 USB ports, SD card reader, RCA video input jacks and 5-way controls located on steering wheel; Sync voice activated communications and entertainment system (Free three-year pre-paid subscription for 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Reports, traffic reports, GPS-based turn by turn driving directions and information services).

Features Voice-Activated Commands: Uses Ford Sync to control climate, audio, phone and navigation features in a hands-free manner through the use of only their voice. On-screen menus accompany voice-activated commands to let the driver see which commands they can use. Traffic, Directions and Information: Visual presentation of Ford Sync traffic, directions and information applications. Traffic Alerts – provided by INRIX. Map-based navigation application via an optional SD card – provided by TeleNav (option can be added later to MyFord Touch but it is not supported by Ford dealers, it requires installing a license). SD card navigation includes services like weather maps, gas prices, and movie listings – via SIRIUS Travel Link. Vehicle Health Report: Vehicle Report provides an online report for the vehicle showing vehicle diagnostics, scheduled maintenance and any recall information. Vehicle Health Report allows users to schedule car service online, directly with the users' preferred car dealer, directly from the personalized online report (unavailable outside North America). This service was discontinued on August 1, 2018. 911 Assist: A form of Advanced Automatic Collision Notification, when sensors detect the vehicle has been involved in a collision involving airbag deployment and, on certain vehicles, where the emergency fuel pump shut-off is activated, 911 Assist puts the occupant(s) of the car directly in contact with a 911 operator. 911 Assist provides a 10-second window where occupants have the option to cancel the call before dialing. Where occupants of the car are unable to speak, 911 Assist delivers an emergency message to the 911 operator (unavailable outside North America). Internet Connectivity: MyFord Touch provides Wi-Fi capability. It also includes hotspot connectivity, which lets other devices to share the MyFord Touch system's internet connection. Supports on-screen and USB-connected keyboards. RSS feed aggregator and text-to-voice reader. In-car Wi-Fi hot-spot capability through USB mobile broadband modem or USB-installed Aircard. Media features: Two USB 2.0 inputs, MyFord Touch provides compatibility with USB-connected MP3 players. SD card slot RCA jack input for audio and video (video input removed on some 2014+ vehicles) AM/FM radio, CD player, Sirius Satellite Radio, HD Radio capability Internet Media player equipped with new Podcast category Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate audio support

MyFord Touch availability

North America Ford C-Max – from MY2013 Ford Edge – from MY2011 Ford Escape – from MY2013 Ford Expedition – from MY2015 Ford Explorer – from MY2011 Ford F-150 – from MY2013 Ford Fiesta – from MY2014 Ford Flex – from MY2013 Ford Focus – from MY2012 Ford Fusion – from MY2013 Ford Mustang – from MY2015 Ford Super Duty – from MY2013 Ford Taurus – from MY2013 Ford Transit – from MY2015 Ford Transit Connect – from MY2014 Lincoln Continental – from MY2017 Lincoln Navigator – from MY2015 Lincoln MKC – from MY2015 Lincoln MKS – from MY2013 Lincoln MKT – from MY2013 Lincoln MKX – from MY2011 Lincoln MKZ – from MY2013

Asia Pacific Ford Everest – from MY2015 (branded as SYNC2) Ford Ranger – from MY2015 (branded as SYNC2)

Australia Ford Falcon – from MY2014 (branded as SYNC2) Ford Territory – from MY2014 (branded as SYNC2)

Europe Ford Focus – from MY2015 (branded as SYNC2) Ford Mondeo – from MY2015 Ford Tourneo Connect – from MY2016 (branded as SYNC2)

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with MyFord Touch

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what MyFord Touch claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to MyFord Touch before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about MyFord Touch ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of MyFord Touch

In research: MyFord Touch appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses MyFord Touch in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: MyFord Touch is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 2010, Ford Motor Company, In-car entertainment, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for MyFord Touch outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study MyFord Touch in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what MyFord Touch means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain MyFord Touch out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is MyFord Touch in simple terms?

Why does MyFord Touch matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study MyFord Touch?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on MyFord Touch.