Re: Speech recognition system for Home automation.

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Soren" <soren.skou.nielsen@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

<stuff snipped>

> I must admit, the microphones a cool! :) , but at a 200$ price tag for
> the cheapest ones, and above 1000$ for the medium quality series, its
> waaay above may budget for this project :D

And for most people's.  The problems are manifold, but the bottom line,
IMHO, is that a cheap mic close to the speaker's mouth gives better
resistance to background noise than an expensive mic mounted much farther
away.  As you obviously know, it's mostly a question of SNR.  I know that
people who live in quiet houses have had good success with the Crown mikes,
and even with cheaper competitors' products, but people who live with the
radio, TV or stereo going all the time have far less success.

Of course, if the source of the background noise is very directional or
electronically generated, you can add noise-cancellation technology to the
mix for a vast improvement in SNR, but I imagine there will still be
problems.  I still believe that GPS enabled cellphones will eventually
shrink to Star Trek comm badge size and everyone will wear one through which
they'll interface with their house, their car, merchants, the internet, etc,
etc.  It could end up as a version of the two-way "wrist TV" that Chester
Gould, the cartoonist, provided for his most famous creation, Dick Tracy.

I think I could live with a watch that worked as voice interface to my HA
system.  It would really only have to understand some letters, numbers and
simple commands like LIGHT A 2 ON.  Smarthome sells a voice-operated remote
control unit that might be hackable to do what you want:

http://www.smarthome.com/8068.html

Totally hands-free operation lets you tell your TV what to do
Fully rechargeable remote runs on Ni-Cd batteries for years
"Learns" the voices of up to four different users in any language
Recognizes up to 50 commands and macros

Tell your TV what do, without lifting a finger! The InVoca 3.0
Voice-Activated IR Remote uses the sound of your voice to control your TV,
VCR, DVD player, cable box, satellite receiver, even your entire home
theater system, up to four different devices! You can even program
multi-step macros or use this voice-activated remote control's channel scan
option for hands-free surfing. The InVoca 3.0 Voice-Activated IR Remote uses
4 rechargeable AA Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries (sold separately).

It's only $44 but the reviews are NOT good:

"After a month of trying we still cannot get the set up right on the remote.
At this point we are considering returning the product. The set up needs"  -
VICKI  --  EAST FARMINGDALE, NY

"I was not happy with the product. It was not user friendly and never worked
like it was suppose to. It ended up in a box for my yard sale!"  -
CATHY  --  WALLA WALLA, WA

"The remote did not fit into the charger securely, at all. It was very
wobbly; we were quite surprised at that. This item could not be used by my
97 "  -  TED  --  WILM., DE

Oh well, maybe they'll get the next revision right!  There were one or two
people that were happy with it:

http://www.smarthome.com/asp/ReviewRead/ReviewRead.asp?itemnumber=8068

--
Bobby G.