BXVC (Bill's X10 Voice Commander) (JScript version)

[roger1818]

Another idea would be to use a Bluetooth headset.  With a Class I Bluetooth adapter in the PC, you can get up to a 100m (333ft) range.  You should be able to configure the software to use the Bluetooth driver as the input sound source.  You might even be able to use the button on the headset to tell the software to listen for a command.

[bigbear1969]

U could also use a cheap wireless lapel mic. They regularly pass on ebay for $50-$100 for a UHF model which should have the range to cover a 2000 sq ft home easily. simply locate the receiver in the middle of the home and run a balanced cable to your sound card's input...

[specter333]

Both good ideas and a hell of a lot cheaper than our other alternatives.  But if your going to carry a mic around with you why not just carry the remote and skip the hassle of voice commands.

[bigbear1969]

well, either the headset or the lapel mic would leave both hands free. the remote, not so much...

[specter333]

This is true.
But I think what we're actually looking for is to walk into a room and give commands without having to remember to carry anything around.  The technology isn't quite there yet but it's getting close.  I think I can adapt what I'm working on in my room  here to work in the whole house to some degree.  And when the voice recognition fails I have X10 switches on my walls to use.

[roger1818]

I have had the â�,��"Star Trekâ�,� ideas about walking through the house and operating every appliance with voice commands too, but I donâ�,��,,�t know if itâ�,��,,�s realistic.

Both good ideas and a hell of a lot cheaper than our other alternatives.  But if your going to carry a mic around with you why not just carry the remote and skip the hassle of voice commands.

Don't forget that in "Star Trek" they are wearing communicators on their lapel so it is conceivable that the computer is supposedly using that to hear their commands.

[specter333]

Good point. Never thought of that before. 

Interesting results with this little experiment I've been doing over the last couple of days.  The self conscious geeky feeling I was getting from talking to my computer vanished without my noticing.  Using voice commands are now coming as naturally as using the mouse.

This morning, while dressing, I was checking email and never touched the computer or a mouse.  I always leave my computer on so everything is always active.  And when I got home I opened the door and said â�,��"computer lightsâ�,� without even thinking about it.  I didnâ�,��,,�t even reach for the light switch, kinda took me be surprise.

I guess convenience comes easy and using the computer with out having to set down and use your hands is proving to be very convenient.

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

All,

Yes, I am working on a VB Express version of BXVC.  It will be called BVC as I plan to add more features to it (eventually) other than just controlling X10.  I have most of it worked out, but I'm still experimenting with the VB Express "Click Once Deployment" as it puts files in strange places!

If you want to get a head-start, BVC requires the .NET 2.0 runtime.  If you want to run BVC on a computer that doesn't have an internet connection, you will have to find a way to get the .NET 2.0 runtime files from Microsoft and install them on the target computer before installing BVC.  For information on how to do that, check the BVC web page at http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc.

I'm not sure it will be "less" of a load on the system.  The real "load" is in the speech recognition engine.

I'll let everyone know when I think I've got a stable enough install to test.

Thanks for your interest in BVC (BXVC).

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

specter333,

Yes, BXVC has a "pause".  You must tell it to "stop listening".  To get back to normal, you can tell it to "start listening" or "listen to me".

-Bill-

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

All,

My main worry about using a "lapel mic" (or any other wireless mic) is interference from an outside source.  Unless the wireless mic has some kind of encoding between it and the receiver, anyone who can transmit on the mic's frequency can control your BXVC!

Anyone know of a "secure" wireless mic system?

-Bill-

[bigbear1969]

Most wireless lapels made since the mid 90's don't have encryption per se, but posess a system specific communication protocol. Not for security, but so that a church service isn't interrupted by a powerful cb signal. In order to hijack your system, they would have to have the same make and model of microphone, or a transmitter that uses the same protocol (which they would have to design and build from scratch) if they are determined enough to do this or to watch you and go out and get the same make and model of wireless mic, you aren't going to stop them from getting you by not using a wireless mic. I'd guess your realatively safe with this route...

[roger1818]

My main worry about using a "lapel mic" (or any other wireless mic) is interference from an outside source.  Unless the wireless mic has some kind of encoding between it and the receiver, anyone who can transmit on the mic's frequency can control your BXVC!

Anyone know of a "secure" wireless mic system?

Bluetooth headsets are relatively secure.  There are some known small security holes but those are much smaller than the security holes in X10.

[-Bill- (of wgjohns.com)]

Those are both interesting points.

One potential drawback I can see to bluetooth is I believe it only has a range of a handful of feet.

-Bill-

[bigbear1969]

My best experience has been with crown PZM mics in each room, noise gated so that only one comes on at a time, run to a mixer and the mixer output going to the soundcard input. I have 1 or 2 dead spots (hallway and laundry room) but otherwise I can say "Lexxie" (my attention word for the computer) in any place in my home and she responds. Of course I'm actually using HAL2000 instead of BXVC/AHP, but the acoustical principals should be the same.

[specter333]

Hey Bigbear, Iâ�,��,,�m glad to find someone that has already experimented with multiple miking throughout the house. I am interested to know what you are using and how are your results.  I had not heard of Hal2000 before now, it sounds like a good program for the situation.  How is it working out for you?  Does it have any issues that need to be addressed?  Iâ�,��,,�m experimenting with realize voice and it does have some very inconvenient issues that have me looking for something better.  I will have to look into it further when I get a chance. 

Youâ�,��,,�re using crown pzm mics.  I would thing they would do well at voice recognition.  What gates are you using and what is the threshold set at on each channel?  How do you have the mics mounted or setting and how do they look ascetically in the rooms?  Do you have any problems with other peoples noise (wife, kids, radio, tv)?   Are the gates inline or inserted into channels?  Is there a priority gate channel?

Hope you donâ�,��,,�t mind all the questions, I figure if you have already worked out some of the bugs then there is no reason to reinvent the process.  Thanks