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CES 2014: HAL© is a Voice- and Gesture-Operated Remote (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the open-the-pod-bay-doors dept.

According to the company's website, "HAL© is the future of television and media management. Using proprietary gesture and voice control technology..." In this case, HAL© stands for “Human Algorithm LTE.” It looks like it's a lot safer than the original HAL 9000, anyway. Is it ready for prime time? If their CES demo is any indication, not quite. They say HAL© is going to ship in the fall of 2014. The technology? They won't say beyond, "It's proprietary." Ah! Then it must be good, right? Another voice-operated remote control -- that's already available for purchase from major retailers -- is the Ivee Sleek. There are other HALs out there, too. Like this one. And this one, which is a home automation server that costs $2499.00 (& up). Anyway, the retail price for HAL(circle-C) is supposed to be $199 when it hits the streets. And even though it doesn't look like HAL© can do much that I can't already do with my Android phone, Skyvi, and a Chromecast, it might be fun to test and review once it's in production.

17 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Another Day, Another Slashvertisement by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I checked the "do not show ads" box, so why the hell do they keep showing up in my feed?

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    1. Re:Another Day, Another Slashvertisement by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      You can, or rather, you could have. Click on Submissions. Vote them up or down. It's not hard.

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    2. Re:Another Day, Another Slashvertisement by ackthpt · · Score: 2

      I checked the "do not show ads" box, so why the hell do they keep showing up in my feed?

      Did it tell you, "I can't let you do that, Dave." ?

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  2. "Xbox play video" by mpoulton · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Huh. I could have sworn Kinect already did most of this. What's the new part, exactly?

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    1. Re:"Xbox play video" by lgw · · Score: 2

      My Samsung TV has both voice and gesture controls, but neither is quite good enough - good idea, poor execution.

      My Xbone has both voice and gesture controls, but neither is quite good enough - good idea, poor execution.

      If these guys got it right, then I can see the value. I'd love voice control for my TV and attached devices that actually worked worth a damn, and didn't false-positive on the audio coming out of the TV! (C'mon guys, how hard could that be to filter?) But I'm guessing these are hard problems, and that both Samsung and MS threw adequate money at them, so I'm highly skeptical here.

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    2. Re:"Xbox play video" by slick7 · · Score: 2

      Huh. I could have sworn Kinect already did most of this. What's the new part, exactly?

      The ability to lip-read.

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  3. Why the ©? by PCM2 · · Score: 3, Informative

    What is with all the HAL©, HAL(Circle-C) nonsense in the submission? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke? Looking at the website, the company doesn't style the product name that way. Is it supposed to be some sort of winking reference to copyright (hurrr, hurrr)? Because that doesn't make any sense...

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    1. Re:Why the ©? by Sarten-X · · Score: 2

      Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?

      Yes, Slashdot's editing is a joke.

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    2. Re:Why the ©? by Roblimo · · Score: 2

      To differentiate the movie Hal from HAL©, the product that didn't impress us much. And yes, they use HAL© repeatedly on their website.

    3. Re:Why the ©? by oodaloop · · Score: 2

      Looking at the website, the company doesn't style the product name that way.

      It sure as hell does, on the about page.

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    4. Re:Why the ©? by ExecutorElassus · · Score: 2

      I think companies who insist on putting copyright/trademark/registration symbols into their marketing should be required, in every verbal exchange with media, at every speaking engagement, and in ever recorded advertisement, to compel their representatives to speak the terms out loud.

      So, for example, should one of their sockpuppets be reading their press material at a conference, it would sound like this: "In addition to the revolutionary remote replacement, HAL *COPYRIGHTED!!* is also introducing wearable technologies such as their HAL *COPYRIGHTED!!* Watch HAL *COPYRIGHTED!!* Ring, and HAL *COPYRIGHTED!! Glasses, etc etc" like a bad case of Tourette's Syndrome.

  4. Proprietary = good? Since when? by twocows · · Score: 2

    They won't say beyond, "It's proprietary." Ah! Then it must be good, right?

    I think this may be the single biggest disconnect in logic© I have ever seen.

    1. Re:Proprietary = good? Since when? by Roblimo · · Score: 2

      Please set sense of humor to "on." We spotted that disconnect, too.

  5. The real question by stox · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will it open my pod bay doors?

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    1. Re:The real question by skids · · Score: 2

      Just don't attach a IR receiver to them and you should be fine.

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  6. Comment© by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was very Interested© to read about the Product© in the Article©. Thanks© for Sharing© this invention with US©.

  7. No thanks by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'll just continue using my regular infrared remote which works 100% of the time.

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