One of the most dangerous distractions while driving is text messaging. I can think of nothing more terrifying than riding with some driver that is texting on their QWERTY phone while driving on I-35, but the scary truth is this happens all of the time. With SYNC, this is no longer a problem. This system can even read your text messages out loud to you and you can reply back by just giving the system a simple voice command! Now that’s awesomely innovative.
As stated in the article “The New, Faster Face of Innovation,” companies are finding cheaper and quicker ways to test their products, making more innovative products available faster to and at reasonable prices for the consumer. However, because it costs less for companies to put products in the marketplace, many companies have flooded the marketplace with products that may not actually have real value for the consumer. Also pointed out in the article is that many technicians for companies think they’re adding value to a product by loading it with features, when in fact these extra features go unused or actually detract from the overall value of the product. I think this concept can be applied to not just product features, but to products themselves. Like we’ve touched on in class, it is really important for companies to created products that don’t just add clutter to people’s lives, but instead add value and make their lives better. I think Microsoft has done this very well with the SYNC system. It’s not just another new feature for your car: it changes your entire driving experience and makes you rethink buying a car without it.
The reason I’ve chosen to use the word innovative to describe SYNC is because I believe that anyone can be creative: just look at the baby snuggie vest.
This is probably one of the most ridiculous looking products I’ve ever seen. Why wouldn’t you just where a jacket and put a jacket on your baby? My point is that the inventors of the Snuggie did had a creative idea by turning a blanket into a wearable robe, but creativity isn’t enough to make the product innovative. Like I mentioned before, it is critical that products don’t just add clutter to people’s lives, which I feel the Snuggie excels at. Innovation to me has to involve a usefulness that makes all consumers think “how did I possibly live without this product before now?” Frankly, I don’t think many people are saying that about the Snuggie and are more frequently saying things like “Those people wearing snuggies look ridiculous!”The SYNC fits my definition of innovation perfectly. I think Microsoft, like always, is on the forefront of innovation and have really changed the future of automobiles and safety. This product makes me excited for the future of the automobile industry and I’m not even that interested in cars. However, if I were in the market for a new car, I would seriously consider buying a Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury vehicle just to be able to use this system!
Before writing this blog post, I had no idea how much the Sync system actually costs, I just figured it was probably a round $2000. However, when I looked up the pricing on the SYNC website, I was surprised to find out that the SYNC system is only around $395, a relatively inexpensive price when you consider how expensive cars are. As mentioned on Ford’s website, many people that don’t want to spend money on power locks and doors say they HAVE to have the SNYC system. Because this system is relatively inexpensive and is user-friendly, it is widely available to the common consumer. This just further illustrates how well this product is truly hitting a need in the market.
