Ford Is Finally Thinking Beyond Cars

Cars were a great idea until theystarted to demolish civilization . Now the inventor of that technology is in use working on the next big transferral idea , one thatmight not bolt down us all . Yes , the American automaker is spending big horse to help you get around — even if it ’s not in a Ford .

In addition to theendless rumors that Ford is work with Googleonself - force back cars , the carmaker isdabbling in on - demand busesand launching itsfirst car - sharing app in April . Now aNew York Times storyexplains how Ford is working with design house Ideo to visualise the post - car generation of mobility . You know Ideo — the company that designedApple ’s first mouseandlaptop , and evenFord ’s interactive dashboard , through a proprietary cognitive operation that the company calls “ intent thinking . ” Right now , Ideo is hard at workplace for Ford in London , Shanghai , and Chicago , prototyping new products and services that might be as world - change as personal motorized vehicles were in 1896 .

In anarrative that sometimes reads like an Onion article , the NYT peep into Ideo ’s Chicago - establish lab where designers attribute themselves various tasks to test the urban center ’s transportation pick . One example : Get to a restaurant four miles away within 45 minute while post heavy shopping bags , spending only $ 10 for three people . But in addition to this ostensibly frivolous exercise , the team also spend calendar month tracking the transportation habit of people from all background in the three cities . Although Ford would n’t say exactly what Ideo educate for them , it is being tested flop now in Chicago , ostensibly .

William Duplessie

While Ford certainly have some congratulation here , it may be too little too lately . Just now jumping on the car - sharing bandwagon , a full 15 years after Zipcar was found , is manifestly farcical . Ford has waited so long it ’s not even the only domestic automaker thinking about this stuff . Last monthGM announced a partnership with Lyft , which focus on self-directed technology as well as an era of declining car ownership . call up beyond cars is definitely a smart business concern move . It ’s obvious thatpeople will be buying fewer cars very soon , and Ford is simply organise for that reality . But no matter what Ford rolls out , it ’s still year — decades — behind more progressive ideas already in motion .

It will also be interesting to see if Ideo can really add something novel to the multimodal transit discourse . LA just roll out a trip-up - planning appbacked by Xerox which assist users pick from itineraries which are “ Sooner , Cheaper , or Greener . ” However , what ’s rightfully incredible here is that a elevator car troupe is taking the opening move to project that automobile - free future . Ford ’s finally earn what the rest of us have always known about great transportation : Ascool as they might look , being stuck behind the bicycle of their cars , day after day after daylight , SUCKS . The future is all about having options .

[ New York Times ]

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