Colours play a very important role in our daily lives. Whether it is trivial things like colour of lipstick or nail polish (no we are not sexist), or the colours that are used for painting houses, or the colour of clothes that we wear, colour is an important aspect that we keep talking about but rarely ever stop think about. Ford is working on the importance of colour to keep drivers within the car alert along with passengers. It believes that this can go a long way in promoting safety and has therefore taken up research in providing the right internal ambiance in a car.
According to Mahendra Dissanayake, Technical Director of Ford Design
“Lighting gives you a sense of orientation. It’s a unique combination of functionality and comfort. Lights, graphics and displays are critical to drivers; we need to make sure that information is presented to the customer in an effective way.”
Here are some of the findings of the Ford team.
“Developing the ice blue color available in the ambient, or accent, lighting palette was critical, since it is a shade that can help keep drivers and passengers more alert. This makes it easier for a driver to absorb all the other messages coming from inside the vehicle. The same balance has been used to make sure that the ambient colors available in the Ford Fusion enhance the driving experience. Ford researchers have tested how the lighting affects the vehicle’s interior from the driver’s perspective, checking the textures and materials under a multitude of lighting conditions to make sure that glare and reflection are limited on smooth surfaces and that eye strain would be minimized”.
Hmm, something to reflect on (pun unintended). Lets hope these benefits trickle down to products that Ford offers in India.