The wearables space is exploding with new companies entering the market all the time. The latest firm to join the race is Ford, which is looking to use the data activity trackers gather to make its cars safer.
The auto-maker wants to figure out things like whether you’ve got a good night’s sleep or whether you’re nervous, and adjust the ride accordingly. Also, it will pick up the cues from its own sensors and data to turn on and off different drive modes depending whether you’re caught in a rush hour, or it’s an easy ride with a few vehicles on the road.
Ford is working to integrate existing activity trackers rather than create a wearable device of its own.This adaptive cruise control could, for instance, automatically increase the distance between you vehicle and the driver in front of you. Also, if the car gets that your heart rate is increased, it may let incoming calls go straight to voicemail.
“So now the car is actually thinking: ‘What is the condition of the driver, and what can I do to help?'” Gary Strumolo, global manager for vehicle design and infotronics for Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, told Fortune.
Strumolo added that health data sent to the car is strictly “transitory,” meaning a Ford vehicle wouldn’t store it in any way. This in turn would enable the company to offer its cars without any regulatory requirements.
Arguably the best part is that Ford is working to integrate existing activity trackers rather than create a wearable device of its own, making it that much easier for drivers to start using the new technology right from the bet.
“Our focus now is really on how we enable a driver to interact with the car in a valuable way,” Strumolo added. “And that’s by making sure people are conscious of their conditions so they can make good decisions when they’re operating the vehicle.”