MYLINCOLN TOUCH DEFINES INTUITIVE DRIVER EXPERIENCE: ADVANCED CAPABILITIES ALL

• New MyLincoln Touch™ driver connect technology redesigns the driver’s interface with the car, matching modern consumer electronics screens and controls that have become the standard for ease-of-use and rich graphic displays
• MyLincoln Touch organizes functions and settings with minimal menu layering for quick access – including personalization of relevant information to minimize driver distraction
• Interface and graphics are powered by the next generation of Lincoln SYNC®, built on Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Auto platform. Advances include improved voice recognition, more connectivity ports including SD Card slot and WiFi capability
• MyLincoln Touch technology becomes standard equipment on future models beginning this year with the 2011 Lincoln MKX

DETROIT, Jan. 12, 2010 – Based upon the new MyFord Touch driver connect technology announced at the 2010 International CES, MyLincoln Touch is designed to be a powerful yet intuitive interior design for drivers, blending strengths of the most proven interfaces in consumer electronics – including MP3 players and mobile phones – with a new generation of Lincoln’s award-winning SYNC® system.

“MyLincoln Touch, combined with new SYNC functionality, creates an experience that will cause people to fall in love with their vehicles again,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “It’s not just a technology; it’s an experience – one we hope will have people across the globe looking forward to spending time behind the wheel of their vehicle.”

MyLincoln Touch redesigns the in-car interface, mirroring how consumers interact with most devices in their lives: touch-sensitive buttons, touch screens, thumb-wheel controls and voice recognition.

In that respect, MyLincoln is instantly familiar. Using reconfigurable displays and simplified voice commands, though, MyLincoln also can present multiple layers of information, just as the driver wants it.

“MyLincoln really is about managing information,” said Jason Johnson, user interface design engineer. “Driving is the priority when you’re behind the wheel, so we’ve made it possible to simplify the content management so customers can drive with minimal distraction. In the end, what MyLincoln displays is really up to the driver.”

MyLincoln Touch layout
MyLincoln Touch retains the traditional car interior layout that has existed for decades – instrument cluster in front of the driver, center stack dividing the dashboard – and adds even more voice control plus full-color LCD screens for much of the visual information presentation. The information presented is customizable by the driver using a combination of voice controls, touch-screen technology and five-way cell phone-style buttons mounted on the steering wheel.

MyLincoln Touch displays information using two 4.2-inch full-color LCD screens flanking an analog speedometer and an 8-inch touch-screen LCD at the top of the center stack. A five-way switch on each side of the steering wheel crossbar controls the information displayed on the corresponding instrument panel screens.

“The steering wheel has all the necessary functions available in a very compact area, right where your hand falls as you grab the wheel,” said Johnson. “The five-way buttons will feel familiar to anyone who has used a mobile phone or MP3 player. Drivers aren’t forced to use a quirky or unfamiliar interface like a joystick or rotary knob.”

The left display, which is controlled by the left five-way controller, features information and settings for the vehicle: fuel economy, mechanical status, safety features.

The right display, controlled by the right five-way controller, contains infotainment information: audio settings, climate control, phone communications and navigation menus.

Those same right-hand functions also appear in the vehicle’s center stack, now augmented with capacitive switches and touch-screen technology, which subtly replaces most traditional knobs and switches.

Lincoln center stack applications will take touch-sensitive technology to the next level with fingertip “slider” controls for audio volume and fan speed. Occupants will slide a finger along the touch-sensitive slider bar to adjust settings as an LED chaser gives a visual representation of volume or fan speed.

Touch-screen display
The 8-inch touch-screen center stack display is the key interface on MyLincoln Touch. Designers employed a four-corner solution for its layout, representing the four activities most important to customers: phone, navigation, climate and audio/entertainment functions.

Regardless of what menus customers are viewing, a single touch on the appropriate corner will always bring up the desired functionality, and in most cases, a voice command also can be used to adjust the controls.

With the four-corner layout, functions are where they’re expected to be, and they’re always visible on the screen, so it’s clear and easy for users to understand where they are in the system.

Color is also used to give drivers intuitive visual cues between the central 8-inch MyLincoln Touch display and the instrument-panel-mounted 4.2-inch display. Phone and communications functions always are presented with an orange background, navigation with a green background, climate control with a blue background and audio/entertainment functions with a red background.

SYNC – behind the scenes
Behind the displays of MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology, the next generation of the company’s award-winning SYNC system runs the show, built using the Microsoft Windows Embedded Auto software platform.

SYNC has evolved from a standalone module providing voice-activated control for mobile devices to a fully integrated platform for Lincoln vehicles – a technology that will become the global interior architecture for all future Lincoln products.
Features available through MyLincoln Touch, powered by SYNC, include:

Media Hub	Additional USB port for a total of two USB 2.0 inputs SD Card slot RCA A/V input jacks
Internet Connectivity	Full WiFi capability including Internet “hot spot” connectivity and a built-in browser for use while in “Park” (late availability) Integrated browser supports tabbed page navigation, “drag” to pan and scroll and a provides a 3D carousel for bookmark browsing Support for on-screen and USB-connected keyboards RSS feed aggregator and text-to-voice reader Mobile in-car WiFi “hot spot” capability through USB-installed air card or USB mobile broadband modem
Phone	Phone book contact photo download and 3-D carousel browsing Birthday reminders Enhanced error correction and reporting
Voice Recognition	Direct speech commands and “flattened structure” for quicker, more responsive voice control Voice-command activation of selected climate control functions Voice commands will be available for most radio functions, including AM/FM, HD Radio™ Technology and SIRIUS Satellite Radio SIRIUS Game Finder application will facilitate automatic voice tuning for desired sporting events using commands such as “Tune to Detroit Lions game” or “Show NFL games”
Navigation	Improved visual presentation of SYNC Traffic, Directions & Information app including directional arrows, street names, and distance markers Map-based navigation app provided by TeleNav via an optional SD Card SD Card navigation includes SIRIUS Travel Link™ services such as weather maps, movie listings, gas prices, and sports scores SD Card navigation also adds Wcities point-of-interest information including ratings and amenities Map data includes 3-D visual landmarks
Climate Control	MyTemp personalization allows the driver to store a preferred temperature, which is then accessible with a single touch of the MyTemp button Different MyTemp settings can be programmed to different keys; multiple drivers in a household can each have unique MyTemp settings
Audio	AM/FM/CD, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, USB-connected MP3 players and memory sticks New HD Radio capability Song tagging capability via HD Radio Technology, allowing listeners to identify song information and store it for later use Browse tracks by artist, scan lists of tracks with identical names, and browse through devices without having to change audio sources 3-D carousel album cover art and photo viewing displays allow easy scanning of available material, especially combined with Gracenote Media Management Media player equipped with new “Podcast” source category Enhanced Bluetooth® audio support including metadata, which allows additional command and control functions for capable mobile devices
Vehicle Setting Personalization	Ambient lighting color control using a 3-D carousel browser Custom welcome messages Saved and transferrable user profiles that can be ported between Lincoln vehicles equipped with MyLincoln Touch Door keypad code control using on-screen menus Where available, Active Park Assist and Rear View Camera displays Image and video uploading via SD card slot or USB 2.0 ports
SYNC Apps & Services	Traffic, Directions & Information offers personalized traffic reports and routing from INRIX, turn-by-turn directions, business search, sports, news and weather via SYNC and the user’s mobile phone Downloadable destinations when coupled with the SD card navigation function; SYNC Service Delivery Network (SDN) will be able to send a destination directly to the vehicle Vehicle Health Reports will download service reminders and vehicle information directly to the in-car displays Improved 911 Assist™ capability with GPS location can call for help in the event of an air bag deployment

Flexible and upgradable
Built using the latest technology from the Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft, the second generation of SYNC has been designed from the outset to be expandable, allowing it to grow and add new features without requiring new hardware. By employing a Media Hub for interfacing with external devices and media, Ford has helped ensure compatibility with future hardware innovations.

“The Media Hub is really the key to SYNC’s new upgradability,” said Johnson. “Take navigation: In the past, map data was stored on a hard drive and updates took hours to load from DVD. With SYNC and MyLincoln Touch, if you need a map update, you take the old SD card out of the Media Hub and pop in a new one.

“It’ll be the first time an automaker will offer something that competes with the cost and ease of personal navigation devices,” he added.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.