Voice Recognition

Software Hardware Touch Screen Voice Recognition Examples

 

Voice Recognition is a very cool technology that is now incorporated into Home Automation software.  Voice Recognition gives you the capability to control things in the home just by speaking.  Voice control can be accomplished in several different ways.  The easiest method is to connect you're telephone to the Home Automation computer.  By doing this you can pick up any phone in the house, press the # key and issue voice commands using the telephone.

Another method is to use a microphone connected to the Home Automation computer to receive voice commands.  This works well for a small home or apartment, but will only allow you to issue voice commands from a single room.

The most advanced form of Voice Recognition is accomplished using a network of "open air" microphones installed in each room of the house and connected back to an intelligent microphone mixer.  This allows for hands-free interaction with the Home Automation system from anywhere within the house.  That's right, want to lower the air conditioning in the middle of the night... no need to get up and go the thermostat or even search for a remote.  All you have to do is speak and let the Home Automation computer make the adjustment for you.

 

         Microphone installed in wall
Crown MB3 microphone installed in wall

Difficulties and Limitations

The same network of microphones that allow whole-house Voice Recognition can also work against you.  These microphones are very sensitive, so they also pick up all the rest of the "Noise" in the house.  These sources of interference can dramatically reduce your ability to use Voice Recognition effectively.  Common sources of interference are sound from the television, stereo, or even just someone else talking in another room.

With lots of research and experimentation, I've been able to overcome many of these limitations using sophisticated equipment designed for corporate audio conferencing.  The use of Gentner AP800 microphone mixers allows many advances to improve the reliability and usefulness of Voice Recognition.


 

Here is a list of improvements that are possible using the AP800 mic mixers:

  • The Home Automation computer can determine which room you are speaking from which simplifies the voice commands needed. Example: The spoken command that used to be "Kitchen lights on" is now simply "lights on".
     
  • Audio from the TV and whole house music system are
    connected to the  mixer which effectively cancels them
    out.  This means they are not picked up by the mics and won't interfere with voice commands
     
  • Adding a Gentner AP10 phone interface creates a voice controlled whole-house speaker phone.  Imagine arriving home and checking your voice messages while walking around your house using voice commands.


 

 


                                   Gentner AP800 Microphone Mixer







                      Gentner AP10 Phone Interface

 

Audio & Video clips soon... please check back.
 

 

 

If you wish to see Home Automation in action, please visit the web interface that monitors and controls my house.  You'll be able to view the status of the lights, fans, music and much more.  This will log you in with 'guest' access and only allows you to view the status... you can't control anything!

To view the web interface, please click on the link below and type "guest" for both the username & password:


Click here to log into my house

 

Contact:
Paul Koslowsky
paul@pksweb.com