Two of the world's biggest companies are coming together to advance the field of digital health care, it was announced at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Ford and Microsoft, along with partners Healthrageous and BlueMetal Architects are working on research technology to help people monitor and maintain health and wellness while on the move.
The alliance was unveiled during the "Doctor in Your Car" keynote address at the Digital Health Summit at the International CES.
"People are spending more time in their cars, and with the tremendous growth in mobile healthcare solutions, Ford is dedicated to understanding the value of being able to connect to health and wellness-related services while driving," said Gary Strumolo, manager of Infotainment, Interiors, Health and Wellness at Ford Research and Innovation.
"Our connectivity platform - Ford SYNC - provides easy, voice-controlled access to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and therefore it makes sense to research areas that are important to our customers."
The system would capture biometric and vehicle data as the basis for real-time health and wellness advice and monitoring.
As of 2011, medical and healthcare was the third-fastest-growing category of smartphone apps, with more than 17,000 available for download. And by 2015, some 500 million people are expected to be using mobile healthcare apps.
Healthrageous uses information collected from blood pressure monitors, activity monitors and glucose meters along with behavioral data shared by the user.
For its part, Microsoft will translate robotic sensory information provided by the vehicle into an application that also provides a voice and touch-screen interface.
All of this happens on Sync's hands-free platform.
"It's all about making health more accessible, and engaging and thereby helping more people lead healthier and more enriching lives," said Mary Beth Chalk, Healthrageous cofounder and chief marketing officer.
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