Car Care That Goes Both Ways

It’s always prudent to monitor a car’s performance to ensure it’s operating properly, but now a car can help look after its driver, too. A new Allergy Alert app, available for Ford Motor Co. vehicles with the latest version of the SYNC infotainment system, allows users to keep tabs on their allergies from behind the wheel via smartphone connectivity. According to Pollen.com, 20 percent of Americans are affected by seasonal allergies. “Mobile health apps are changing the way consumers manage their own wellness, and SYNC provides the platform to extend this growing trend to the driving experience,” says Doug VanDagens, global director of Ford Connected Services. Especially handy for salespeople and other frequent travelers, the voice-operated app enables drivers to learn which types and severity of allergens they’re likely to encounter that could trigger their specific symptoms. It also provides risk indices for ultraviolet exposure, asthma and various respiratory illnesses. Allergy Alert is available as a free download for iOS devices from the App Store.