Ford introsuces Nanny State Technology Ford MyKey, will block satellite radio stations and adds radio censorship to further control teen driving habits.The new feature will first be offered on the Ford Taurus and new Explorer with the feature rolling out to other Ford and Lincoln vehicles later…….
Using the latest version of the Ford’s MyKey system, parents can now block their children from listening to certain radio stations.There are a dozen stations listed as explicit by Sirius, and all of them can be blocked using MyKey starting in 2011.Also seeing an upgrade for 2011 is MyKey’s speed-limiting technology. The top speed of a properly equipped Ford vehicle could be capped at 80 miles per hour (with chimes sounding at 45, 55 and 65). Now users can preset a desired speed limit at any of four different settings – 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. While an obvious safety feature, the technology can also dramatically improve fuel efficiency.Ford MyKey allows parents to limit audio volume, encourage seatbelt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up and provide earlier low-fuel warnings.Ford contracted the firm Penn, Schoen & Berland to conduct a survey regarding its new MyKey features, and the results aren’t terribly surprising: 85 percent of parents believe the speed limiting controls are important and 60 percent say the same regarding the radio content controls. Even 45 percent of teen drivers themselves say they approve of the technology.
