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For years now I've
been a user of speech recognition,
(sometimes referred to as voice recognition) Home
Automation. This allows me to speak to my computer, and get
voice notices and warnings in return. As well as
control my lighting and other Home Automation devices, like
security cameras.
Using Voice command and
control in combination with my X10 Home Automation products
and devices (like lighting). This has always been a Star-Trek
like vision of the future. And,
more recently (and less famously) the self-aware Smart Home SARAH
as portrayed on the cable TV series Eureka.
Although movie
and TV science fiction has always spurred real life
creativity I think Home Automation may be best suited to
imitate the art that these series have portrayed.
The improved computer
processing speeds, and user created software like Bill's
Voice Commander has made this possible
today. I have been using Voice Command for home lighting and
more since late 2006. And I am not even using any
state-of-the-art equipment ether.
I run a HA PC [Home Automation
Computer] 24/7. But it's an old P3 with an XP Home operating
system. However, I did bump-up the RAM with some I
picked up from a flea market. My whole-house microphone
system (that allows me to speak to the computer) is simply
hacked (cheapest I could find) baby monitors.
Whether you need or want voice control
for X10 lights, appliance modules, security, infra red (IR
remote controls) or just plain fun, Bill's Voice Commander (aka:
BVC) is an awesome and easily affordable solution.
The free trail shareware download is
completely functional (it has a nag) for both X10 home
automation products and electronic equipment (TV's,
Stereo's, DVD and VCR) with normal IR remote controls. Or
donate to wgjohns.com
and receive the nag-less version (my recommendation).
BVC which is a
Microsoft Windows based (XP or Vista) compatible
software, and is now available from wgjohns.com
as a free trial shareware download. I use BVC for home
automation. The voice announcements let me know what is
going on around the home, that might other-wise go
unnoticed. And with the use of X10 home automation I can
control my environment with spoken commands. I made a
YouTube video that gives a short demo of how I am using BVC
[below].
The
use of Home Automation is limited... only by our
imaginations.
Dave
I have recently
expanded my quest for sci-fi like Home Automation by using Occupancy
Sensing within my home. I am now using the
Eureka [more home centric] model. And I am creating
macros that better allow my setup to respond to my being
there [or not]. I am calling this new concept S.A.R.A.
(Smart Articulate Responsive Automation). Of course... SARA
has her own Web Page.
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See
my other Home Automation Videos at my
YouTube Channel Click Here.
The control of the
lighting and similar equipment requires an X10 computer
interface called an AHP (Active Home Pro), and X10 modules,
switches, plugs. For the control of IR devices a USB-UIRT (IR
USB device) is required. Both
can be found and/or purchased through Bill's Web Site.
I got started
with X10 when I built my
Home Theater. I used X10 lighting control to
automatically dim and brighten the lighting for movie
watching. The X10 lighting gave me the WOW factor I was
looking for. And whereas I do still enjoy the Home Theater
movies. I soon found myself hooked on Home Automation.
Eventually I ended up at the X10 forums looking for new
ideas on how to expand my home automation system. That's
where I found Bill's
Voice Commander with the speech recognition control.
I searched for an affordable solution to the multiple
microphone problem (for whole-home voice control).
I have posted
several useful links at the X10 forums as well as Bill's own
BVC Forum. If you are interested in a voice command
experience, or life style, or even just good Home Automation
you may find some of them interesting.
I've been pursuing Home
Automation for a few years now (my automation setup is never
complete). And I have to admit it has been a heck of a lot
of fun. I recently have been asked to make some videos for a
new Home Automation Site called This
Automated House (thisautomatedhouse.com).
Although very new and
still in development I expect to see big things from this
new Site in the near future.
Another way to learn more
about Voice Controlled Home Automation... or HA in
general. Visit KDR's
Home Automation Chat Rooms. You'll find live and
cheerful chat... most evenings.
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I am now attempting to create
a degree of