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Navigation experts at Sygic took to this year’s edition of Mobile World Congress to announce a new feature for their driving app, having unveiled it in the form of a voice-enabled Driving Assistant. Much like its name implies, the functionality will allow you to talk with your navigation service without taking your eyes from the road, asking it to find the nearest gas station, figure out if you’re about to run into a traffic jam, or help you locate a nearby rest stop. The digital assistant will be hitting the Sygic Car Navigation App for Ford’s Sync 3 in-vehicle entertainment and communications system next month via a conventional over-the-air update which should be installed automatically. The app itself already leverages Ford’s platform to deliver real-time data on traffic, parking, and gas prices, while simultaneously offering robust GPS mapping capabilities.
Interacting with the app’s Driving Assistant is as simple as pressing a corresponding button on the wheel of a compatible Ford vehicle and reciting a question or a command such as “find a petrol station” or “how is traffic ahead?” The voice-enabled companion will support 24 languages at launch and speak in a clear and succinct manner so as to brief you on any topic related to your travels in an effective manner. The feature ties into the app’s existing navigation controls so as to be able to verbally navigate the driver to their destination without requiring them to ever look away from the road or even just take a single hand off the wheel. Sygic is hoping that the addition of a truly hands-free method for communicating with the app will minimize the chances of drivers becoming distracted, consequently making them safer on the road. Ultimately, the feature is meant to deliver a voice interface that’s both convenient and risk-free, according to the firm. Premium subscribers will also be able to take advantage of some extra voice-enabled features such as the self-explanatory Tire Pressure Assistant and Fuel Assistant, both of which will let you know once your vehicle isn’t in an optimal condition for prolonged journeys.
The Bratislava-based company authored one of the most popular navigation apps in the world and is constantly updating it with new capabilities, many of which are leveraging some brand-new technologies such as augmented reality. Sygic will be showcasing its latest solution at the Barcelona, Spain-based trade show until Thursday.