Re: [mh] Linux VR and Interface options

[Gregg L. <gr...@li...>]

Roussell, Terry wrote:
> I've installed MH on Linux (SuSE 9.3) and looking at it as a
> replacement for mu current software (Meedio's Housebot). I love
> housebot but would prefer a Linux OS as a foundation for my home
> control software. I have followed MH for many years but I'm only now
> beginning to get serious with it.
> 
> I have been trying to locate a download location for IBM's
> discontinued ViaVoice but cannot seem to find one. I tried the
> alternative link at http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/Linux/ViaVoice/
> but it looks as though that link is no longer valid either. Does
> anyone know of a good download location for ViaVoice, or... are there
> any other viable (and free) alternatives to VV that work with
> MisterHouse? Like a good newbie, I've already scoured the archives,
> FAQs and install docs but came up empty.

...perhaps, try searching on sphinx (http://cmusphinx.sourceforge.net),
sphinx3, sphinx4 or voxapl w/i the mh archives.  Sean W. and I worked on
a sphinx4 implementation (called voxapl) that communicated to mh via
xAP.  The source can be found via CVS at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/voxapl; binaries can be temporarily
(they'll be moved to sf.net once I learn to upload them) found at
http://limings.net/voxapl.  I will warn you that the implementation is
"alpha" state and that the grammar file can be a bit daunting.  I'll be
happy to help, however, if you decide to use it.

> Also, as I mentioned above; I am switching over from Housebot. Has
> anyone tried to tie the two together? I love the interface (Software
> remote) on Housebot. IMHO it is far better than a standard web
> interface. As an alternative, I thought of using Cinemar's Mainlobby
> product as the frontend to MH as it is similar (even better) than
> Housebot's. Anyone with experience in this area? 

I am unaware of any interface w/ either of the above.  However, you
might take a look at some xAP interfaces: xAP Desktop and xAP Floorplan
at http://www.mi4.biz.  If these spark interest (they do rely on a
win32/.Net platform--though), then the upcoming release of mh will
include xAP BSC--a flexible and fairly generic method of monitoring and
controlling device states.  Initial mh BSC support includes all mh
controlled x10 devices as well as all the MPO
(motion-presence-occupancy) "pseudo" devices.  I'll add more as
requested/needed (the framework makes adding more object types quite
trivial).

Rob R. recently posted a plan to integrate w/ Pluto which I believe also
has "nifty" UI frontends.

> If I can't do
> either, I'll probably come up with a configurable flash style front
> end to jazz it up a little. I'll of course share the results with
> anyone interested.

That would be great!