He says that no matter what happens, 'drivers will not allow themselves to be disconnected in a connected world'. From Ford's point of view, he highlights the company's growing implementation of voice actuation technology for managing communications and entertainment systems, 'which allows the driver to keep hands on the wheel'.
There are still concerns, though, about how much information streaming a driver's mind can handle without distraction, even though his or her hands may still be on the wheel.
Ford is also big into driver assist technologies, both for safety and convenience. These include the Active Park Assisit and anti-collision systems which are available on cars like the current Focus.
While companies like Google have been developing cars that drive themselves, Mullally said that while self-driving modes are possible in cars, that capability is unlikely to materialize except for niche applications. He added that technology is getting better at assisting human drivers with situational awareness, using cameras and sensors.
