Henry Ford probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of famous hackers. In fact, the term may even conjure up images of figures hunched over computers in a dark basement. But in reality, the definition – popularized by companies like Facebook – of hacking has evolved to mean a way to approach a situation with little restriction or direction in the name of open innovation. Now thinking of the man who said “anyone who stops learning is old” as an advocate of a hacker’s approach to creative thinking doesn’t seem too unusual.

Hacking’s modern roots are rooted in technology, which is key to the entire driver experience at Ford.

Engineers, scientists, and researchers work in the Ford Sci Lab to develop revolutionary technologies that are put into practice – such as Ford SYNC® and EcoBoost®.

And there is much more tinkering happening every day. Did you know that vehicles have the potential to communicate with one another on the road to help stop accidents? Or that vehicles can aid in monitoring driver wellness such as allergies and diabetes?

It’s amazing what a large role vehicles play in daily lives. At Ford, we are working to create smart technology that aims to enhance the time we spend in our vehicles.

That sounds a lot like a hacker’s approach to innovation – creative and boundless, yet thoughtful and useful. It’s in our blood and we’re proud to look at the company’s founder as the original hacker to the masses.

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview on Ford Social with Julius Marchwicki, Product Manager for Ford SYNC AppLink, who will give his thoughts on the Ford approach to innovation and how hacking can help us explore what’s possible.