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A Voice-Controlled TV Remote

Posted by timothy on from the your-little-sister-doesn't-count dept.

Pankaj Arora writes "California-based Agile TV aims to 'change the way people watch TV' via the creation of its voice-controlled TV remote, Promptu. From the article: 'The Promptu remote is designed to replace a conventional remote control and includes a "Talk" button and a built-in microphone, together with an infra-red receiver used in conjunction with an existing cable box.' Personally, I'm waiting for the version that interfaces with your brain."

6 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. voice control by Richard+Allen · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've noticed that voice commands seem to take more energy than pushing buttons. Why present it like it's an advancement?

    1. Re:voice control by KiloByte · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I played with IBM's ViaVoice several years ago. It's next to useless.

      For regular text, the results don't even resemble whatever was said. Getting a single sentence right is a major feat, even after a number of repetitions. And this was not just me, none of my friends was able to make the damn thing work.

      For simple commands, it often worked. There were frequent mistakes, but generally, it looked like it might be an idea worth pursuing.

      However, every time you try talking to your computer, everyone in your vicinity looks at you weird way. Sure, getting accustomed to such gizmos would shake off this reaction pretty fast, but even then, it wouldn't be treated any gentler than it's the case for a cell phone going off in a bus. Talking to a machine makes you stand out.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
  2. Worthless... by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Excuse my cynicism, but if I have to push a button in the first place, why shouldn't I just press the appropriate button to perform the desired command?

    Dan East

    --
    Better known as 318230.
  3. Re:Best feature by Infinityis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Which, of course, becomes useless if you apply it to a number of devices. Might work better if it responds to "Where are you, remote control?"

  4. Better yet by bonch · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's make the remote control pointless and have the TV itself be voice-activated.

  5. "German Shizer Porn" by t_allardyce · · Score: 3, Insightful

    All I want to know, is which retard invented a voice-controlled remote but put a button on it that you have to press before you can actually talk? What would have been useful is a remote control that would make a beep when you called it after you had lost it down the sofa. They could have put all these search features on a device with a screen or just taken any PDA with an infra red port and written some software.

    Verdict: no one is using it now and no-one will be using it in 6 months time..

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.