Slashdot Mirror
Super-small Voice-controlled Wireless Phone
The phone comes in two pieces, (much like other cordless phones). The earset weighs only 1.1oz (including the lithium polymer battery, smaller than a pack of gum), and only has a single button on it. The base station plugs into your analog phone line, and connects to your computer via USB. The included software runs a custom copy of IBM's ViaVoice speech engine to interpret your voice commands; right now the software only runs on Windows.
The software integrates into Outlook, ACT! and Windows Address Book. At boot-up, the software looks at the list of contacts, and loads their names into a custom speech dictionary. If you want to call John Public, you press the button on the earset and say "Call John Public at work." The software matches your speech to John's name, looks up John's information, finds his Work number, and dials it for you. (Very cool). Dialing by numbers is done by pressing the button, and saying "Dial" and announcing the digits you want to dial, (i.e. "Dial one eight-hundred five five five one two one two").
All the other telephone functions are also handled via voice command, (answer, hang up, flash, mute, hold, volume, etc).
Right now the software only works with telephony functions, but they have just released an add-on package that lets you use the phone as a wireless headset for your computer, (for voice-dictation, IP Telephony, other voice-recognition software, etc). They say they want to extend the software to handle home-automation and entertainment, (can anyone say voice-controlled X10?!?)
The phones are priced at $300, which is targeted at the business crowd. It's a little steep for home use.
I happened to find a deal on mine, and have been using it for about a month now. I work out of my home for a software company on the other side of the country. It is very handy to be able to talk to my co-workers simply by saying their name. The size and form factor are also very nice. I can wear it around all day, and am able to take a call from anywhere near the house, (office, back deck, breakfast table, neighbor's house, changing a diaper, etc).
I know this doesn't have much to do w/ Linux, but the geek in me couldn't keep my mouth shut! I thought this might be an interesting story, simply for the application of voice technology and miniaturization.
Slashdot welcomes reader-submitted hardware reviews.
The phone made by McSiemens is even better: http://www.eel.nu/mcsiemens/McSiemens.html
"Cowboy Neal, you Rox0rz my sockorz." Said Commander Taco lovingly as they embraced. People on the street yelled at them to leave, but they wouldn't listen. They loved each other too much. As they hugged, and kissed, and laid to the ground, never letting go. "Commander Taco, you wowzers my trousers." Cowboy Neal said. "I'm not wearing any." Commander Taco reminded him.
Then they were both taken to jail for s0domy and raped in jail, much to their delight.
You can not stop us
We have the AC
You die now
Are you afraid?
Death to Commander Taco
Death to Cowboy Neal
EvilB0b is Great
I've been trollin' on slashdot so early,
I've been trollin' here since my momma was a baby,
Just because the site is homo
that don't mean you can't troll
Logged-in or AC
*Logged-in or AC*
You got to got to troll
*You got to got to troll*
Logged-in or AC
*Logged-in or AC*
You got to got to troll
*You got to got to troll*
All you ever need is to be dumb and crappy
*All you ever need is to be dumb and crappy*
All you ever need is to be dumb and crappy
*All you ever need is to be dumb and crappy*
Remember to get mod points the key is to suck up
Mod the bad ones down to keep the good ones from going up
I can sell a crappy linux box like this
*I will try to sell a crappy linux box like this*
I can sell a crappy linux box like this
*I will try to sell a crappy linux box like this*
I never dreamed it would be like this
Slashdot encourgaing trolling at number 0
The post over here is total junk
*The post over here is total junk*
CowboyNeal is one sick fuck
*CowboyNeal is one sick fuck*
Oh yes, trolling is a lot a lot of fun
I've had some yucks and now I'm on the run
Logged-in or AC
*Logged-in or AC*
You got to got to troll
*You got to got to troll*
Logged-in or AC
*Logged-in or AC*
You got to got to troll
*You got to got to troll*
haha let me tell you something I've never told before
I will try to troll everything, everything
*I will try to troll everything, everything*
You will try to troll everything, everything
*You will try to troll everything, everything*
Karma, karma, karma is nothign that you need
*Karma, karma, karma is nothign that you need*
Karma, karma, karma is nothign that you need
*Karma, karma, karma is nothign that you need*
Heh heh, Cmdr Taco will be very proud of you
Let me know if you ever troll another site
I will help you, or you will help me
*You got that right teacher, thanks alot!*
-Parappa the Troll
Cowboy Neal and Commander Taco were sitting in their tiny apartment together, looking for something to do. They had already tried anal, oral, fisting, aural, navel, and urethral sex. This wasn't quite enough, however. They needed something special.
Belly-punching.
Cmdr Taco was broken hearted, he layed on the couch crying. Cowboy Neal Hugged Taco, trying to console him "It's hard when you lose a lover". Taco said "But why does a goes have to be built so that when you stick a human penis inside it's vagine you pierce it's liver?" "I don't know... but you'll never kill me by fucking me" "Oh Neal, I love you" "I love you Cmdr Taco". Then Neal took out a knife and stabbed himself in the liver and died.