Technology - Testing Ford's Sync System - NYTimes.com USING any new technology involves a degree of trust - sometimes a significant amount of trust, as I learned over the course of a weekend spent testing Ford's latest version of Sync. Developed with Microsoft, Sync is Ford's voice-controlled in-car system for wireless hands-free operation of a cellphone and for playing music from a connected MP3 player. Automated calls for 911 assistance in the event of an air bag deployment are also part of the Sync package, which was a $395 option on the 2010 Taurus that I drove. Ford has been adding features to Sync since its introduction; the latest version includes built-in GPS navigation with spoken turn-by-turn directions; traffic updates; recorded news and sports articles; and vehicle health reports. Ford's approach to telematics differs from others. There is no monthly fee for the first three years (Ford has not determined whether fees may be applicable after that), and drivers do not need to pay extra for a data cellphone plan; the system sends information over the voice channel of the driver's phone. With concerns about distracted drivers reaching fever pitch, the creators of Sync emphasize that there are no visual distractions - there is no LCD screen in the basic package, eliminating the temptation to look away from the road - and all operations are hands-free. Push a voice button on the steering wheel, tell the system what you want and your request is confirmed by a robotic female voice. Much of this works as advertised. The real challenge, however, proved to be the new navigation feature, which I tested on the unforgiving streets in and around New York City, shuttling the family to children's birthday parties, embarking on a sojourn to Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and traversing some obscure byways in Scarsdale. When telling Sync where you want to go, there is a temptation to overenunciate and speak slowly, as if you were asking for directions in a foreign country. More often than not, this just confuses Sync. Speaking in a normal tone, at normal speed, is more effective. I found the system understood addresses and commands like "route summary" extremely well. However, drivers do need to learn Sync's preset commands, which means either reading the manual (and who wants to do that?) or waiting for prompts from the interactive voice menu. In all my peregrinations, Sync ultimately got me to the destination successfully. However, there were a few glitches and some accommodations necessitated by the system. Lacking an LCD screen, Sync cannot provide a constantly updated estimated arrival time. It also means there is no display to glance at for a confirmation you're on the right route. A voice command will get the system to repeat directions, but I found that by the time it did so I had already passed my moment of doubt and uncertainty. The traffic feature worked when I requested a new destination, warning me of an accident on the F.D.R. Drive, but frustration set in when it failed to tell me about a 40-minute backup on the Major Deegan. There were also the inevitable errors. For example, instead of saying George Washington Bridge, Sync says George Washington Branch, an error I have seen with other navigation systems. And with my spotty AT&T cellular coverage, I sometimes could not connect to Sync's services - remember, Sync is only as good as your cellular carrier. Another snag arose when I missed a turn in Scarsdale. The Sync system took several seconds to realize I had gone astray and then another 40-50 seconds to fetch a revised route. Dedicated portable navigation devices, which have all their maps stored onboard, are much faster at rerouting. By the time Sync fed me new directions I had already figured it out myself. The most significant issue with a system like Sync is that relying solely on spoken directions is not necessarily compatible with driving the family around town. I found myself constantly snapping at passengers to quell conversations so I could hear the instructions. My loquacious 6-year-old did not appreciate this feature - and my wife was downright annoyed. Ultimately, the Sync system required a higher degree of trust than I was comfortable with. Even after several days of use, I still did not completely trust the voice-only system and, distracting or not, I longed for the security blanket of an LCD screen.