Re: Speech recognition system for Home automation.

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"D&SW" <d&sw@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:tmEHi.11654

> I don't know that speech recognition is "a simple task". Try googling and
> ebay'ing for "Mastervoice" or "Butler-in-a-Box",  old technology but
worked
> well.

It's simple - in a lab.  And it's readily available, too.  I checked Google

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=stand+alone+speech+recognition
+systems+-patents

and there's a whole host of solutions out there.  The biggest problems,
IMHO, are that some lifestyles and homes are not compatible with voice
commands.  If you have music or TV playing in the background, the problem
gets pretty complex and requires the speaker be very close to the
microphone.

Probably the best method currently would be to use a cordless phone system
to link to the speech controller since most people have phones in multiple
rooms these days.  Not quite the hands free technology-as-magic but probably
far more reliable than any current roomwide mic setups.  People have been
able to get such roomwide installations to work, but it's a lot of effort
and still isn't immune (or as immune) to loud ambient noise as a good phone
mic placed close to the speaker's mouth.

It's possible to mute the electronic audio or attempt to mute it via noise
cancellation, but I think the voice commanded home is still a bit off in the
future.  It's a little bit like the leap that was supposed to occur nearly
30 years ago when holograms were invented.  The pundits predicted that in a
few short years, all photos would be holographic and all movies made in 3D.
Aside from a segment in the movie "Logan's Run" I haven't seen much progress
in the world converting to 3D imaging.  (-:

Eventually, we'll be able to separate the loud background noise from the
speaker's voice - hell, my *dog* can do it right now!  More likely we'll all
be wearing invisible headphone and mics that tie us into the net, our phones
and our house, but it's taking longer than expected, at least from where I'm
sitting.  But it's starting.  I see a lot more people every time I go out
with Bluetooth earpieces stuck in their ears.

--
Bobby G.