MyFord Touch - New User Interface
By Amy Gilroy
Before Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) sends out an upgrade for the MyFord Touch to its current customers, it will issue USB drives with the upgrade to 1,000 of its employees to test the system for a full month.
The randomly picked employees will start getting the beta soon, in stages, starting with a group of managers, said the DailyTech.
As you may remember, Ford announced last month an upgrade to the MyFord Touch that is due to roll out early next year (after the original was too complex for many users). New features include support for tablet devices and Audible.com audiobooks, improved navigation maps and enhanced voice recognition interaction.
The upgrade has not yet received an official name, but you can watch a video demonstration here:
Again, Ford seems to be taking a cue from the computer industry. After problems with its Vista operating system, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) tested the highly successful Windows 7 through employee trials.
“Employees are a great source for quick feedback, and the best part is that they are eager to help,” said John Schneider, chief engineer, Infotainment, Ford Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering.
Ford again claims it is acting with the speed to market of a computer or consumer electronics company. Schneider said, “The new upgrade exemplifies the importance of customer feedback and showcases the flexibility and speed we now have by leveraging software to evolve Ford technology.”
Amy Gilroy is the Editor of CEoutlook and a Contributing Author to Market Playground and Satellite Radio Playground.
