[misterhouse-users] FYI: Inexpensive hardware-based X-10 voice control

[Bill R. <bi...@in...>]

The current issue of "Nuts & Volts" magazine features an article about
using a hardware-based voice recognition board (speaker dependent) to
control X-10 modules via a power-line interface, for about $70-$100.
Coincidentally, I had been playing with the predecessor of this board
for a bit, with the idea of connecting it to the hands-free phone
system we inherited, for voice input to Mr. House.  The only drawback
on the old version was that it required a "push to talk" button to
make it listen.  The new version, the "Voice Direct 364" listens
constantly for a specific keyword or words, and once it hears that
word, it listens for several seconds for one of the other words it's
been trained on.  You can also have different keywords and associated
word sets for different users.  The stand-alone setup handles 15 words
or short phrases, but it appears that by connecting it to an external
computer, it can handle up to 60.  I've got one on order to play with;
I plan on trying to hook it up to a BASIC Stamp 2 that acts as an
interface between a serial port on my Mr. House server and other
electronic devices which don't have serial ports (like our phone
system, source switchers for our audio system, etc.)  For more info,
see http://www.sensoryinc.com/.  The manuals are available in PDF
format on that site.  


Bill Richman
bi...@in...
http://incolor.inetnebr.com

Home of Fun with Molten Metal, technological
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