ecsl@netbloc.com: 9715: RE: [ECS] Are you using TTS in your HA UI?

Subject:
From:
Date:

RE: [ECS] Are you using TTS in your HA UI?
David Kindred
Mon, 27 Nov 2000 15:47:31 -0500

Mon, 27 Nov 2000 15:47:31 -0500

Kevin,

There are at least a couple of ways of going about distributing TTS. If you
have a home PBX (KSU) with speakerphones, you could have ECS place a call to
one/all of them and have your message spoken. You could string speakers
around the house and hook them to an old stereo (through a speaker
protection box) which would be hooked to your sound card. You could
daisy-chain 70V speakers around the house and power them off of a single 70V
amplifier (I have one for sale). Or, you could go with wireless speakers
placed in each room. Each approach has its own merits and drawbacks.

In our last house, I used the speakerphone approach for a while, but gave it
up because I couldn't hear any announcements if I were on the horn. My next
try was putting some old car speakers in the ceilings (with pretty
faceplates, of course) and running them off a computer speaker amplifier.
That was fine for a while, but lacked fidelity, and needed tweaking often.
My last try was using an old amp and some $10 Radio Shack speakers. That
worked out the best.

Now, we're going to be moving into a new house. This time around, I wired 3
speakers in each of the rooms. Two will be hooked through a speaker
protector box to an old amp which will, in turn, be hooked to an MP3 server.
Each room will have a volume control. The third speaker will be used solely
for TTS announcements. These suckers will be hooked to Ray Newman's speaker
switcher device, which will be hooked to an old amp, which will be hooked to
the ECS machine. Using the switcher, I hope to be able to make zoned
announcements. If Ray becomes active again, I might buy a second device from
him for the MP3 speakers. This time around, I'm going to use decent speakers
for playing music. Still might use some cheapie Shadio Racks for the TTS,
though.

--David
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Kevin Trainor [mailto:kevin@thetrainors.com]
  Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 3:10 PM
  To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
  Subject: [ECS] Are you using TTS in your HA UI?


  Hi All:

  I'm still in the early stages of implementing my home automation system
using ECS.  So far, I am controlling lights and pool filtration.  When I
finish writing my serial-byte interface, I will install my new access
control system on my entry doors.  Eventually, I expect to include HVAC
control, security system control and lawn sprinkler control.

  I have ordered a Leapord and it should arrive tomorrow.  Based upon the
new features that Mark has implemented for the Leapord, I expect to be able
to use it as both an input and an output device as part of my UI.  I can see
placing one at each of my entry doors, my bedroom, and maybe a couple of
other places.

  But somehow, despite having a touch screen console on which to display
messages, I am attracted to the idea of using TTS to get the user's
attention and inform him of messages of immediate importance.  These would
run the gamut of everything from a door being left open to smoke being
detected in the basement.  Having dreamed up this feature, I am baffled
about the right way to implement it.  Do I install a public address system
and blare every message to every room in the house?  Do I try to find an
intercom system with a computer interface that would allow me to direct
messages to certain locations?  Since I'm not trying to tackle voice
recognition of commands, is this just a silly "nice to have" feature that
will turn out to be not worth the effort anyway?

  So, at last, my questions:  What are the rest of you guys doing with TTS
and other sound output?  Is it worth doing?  What delivery mechanisms have
you used?  What else should I consider before embarking on this course?

  Thanks in advance for your help.

  Kevin

Kevin,

There are at least a couple of ways of going about distributing TTS. If you have a home PBX (KSU) with speakerphones, you could have ECS place a call to one/all of them and have your message spoken. You could string speakers around the house and hook them to an old stereo (through a speaker protection box) which would be hooked to your sound card. You could daisy-chain 70V speakers around the house and power them off of a single 70V amplifier (I have one for sale). Or, you could go with wireless speakers placed in each room. Each approach has its own merits and drawbacks.

In our last house, I used the speakerphone approach for a while, but gave it up because I couldn't hear any announcements if I were on the horn. My next try was putting some old car speakers in the ceilings (with pretty faceplates, of course) and running them off a computer speaker amplifier. That was fine for a while, but lacked fidelity, and needed tweaking often. My last try was using an old amp and some $10 Radio Shack speakers. That worked out the best.

Now, we're going to be moving into a new house. This time around, I wired 3 speakers in each of the rooms. Two will be hooked through a speaker protector box to an old amp which will, in turn, be hooked to an MP3 server. Each room will have a volume control. The third speaker will be used solely for TTS announcements. These suckers will be hooked to Ray Newman's speaker switcher device, which will be hooked to an old amp, which will be hooked to the ECS machine. Using the switcher, I hope to be able to make zoned announcements. If Ray becomes active again, I might buy a second device from him for the MP3 speakers. This time around, I'm going to use decent speakers for playing music. Still might use some cheapie Shadio Racks for the TTS, though.

--David

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Trainor [mailto:kevin@thetrainors.com]
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 3:10 PM
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
Subject: [ECS] Are you using TTS in your HA UI?

Hi All:

I'm still in the early stages of implementing my home automation system using ECS. So far, I am controlling lights and pool filtration. When I finish writing my serial-byte interface, I will install my new access control system on my entry doors. Eventually, I expect to include HVAC control, security system control and lawn sprinkler control.

I have ordered a Leapord and it should arrive tomorrow. Based upon the new features that Mark has implemented for the Leapord, I expect to be able to use it as both an input and an output device as part of my UI. I can see placing one at each of my entry doors, my bedroom, and maybe a couple of other places.

But somehow, despite having a touch screen console on which to display messages, I am attracted to the idea of using TTS to get the user's attention and inform him of messages of immediate importance. These would run the gamut of everything from a door being left open to smoke being detected in the basement. Having dreamed up this feature, I am baffled about the right way to implement it. Do I install a public address system and blare every message to every room in the house? Do I try to find an intercom system with a computer interface that would allow me to direct messages to certain locations? Since I'm not trying to tackle voice recognition of commands, is this just a silly "nice to have" feature that will turn out to be not worth the effort anyway?

So, at last, my questions: What are the rest of you guys doing with TTS and other sound output? Is it worth doing? What delivery mechanisms have you used? What else should I consider before embarking on this course?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Kevin