One Voice's Media Center Communicator offers voice commands for MCE

There are a lot of programs that claim to allow you to control your PC with voice commands (our experience with them hasn't been too good; maybe it's that Noo Yawk accent), but One Voice's $150 Media Center Communicator looks like it may be the first one designed to work specifically with Windows XP Media Center Edition. If it works as advertised, it could make tasks like changing channels or switching tracks even easier. We do worry, though, about how it'll interpret some of the things we say to our TV sets when we're, say, watching a football game or a presidential press conference.

[Thanks, Fady]

[Crazyjamaican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

This looks and sound great but, what about HAL.HAL sota does this but it also does so much more. I heard they were coming out with a version intergrated into WinXP MCE. If they could somehow integrate this with HAL, I might actually consider using a windows pc again. HAL looks so cool and so does this program. Has anyone used either program. Here is the website for HAL the ultimate household gadget. http://www.homeautomatedliving.com/default.htm
By the way Mark and Peter have you ever considered writing a column on Home Automation? Just wonderin and if not maybe you should. I know that many people would be intrested in something like that. 8-)

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Saying "channel forty" or "channel up" just isn't as fast as just pushing a button. A single command isn't much slower, but multiple ones or channel surfing, for those that still do it, can be pretty annoying using voice commands.

Voice commands are generally clunky and slow unless you program a crapload of voice macros and shortcuts.

[Roy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

#3 what the heck does that have to do with voice commands? Get lost.

[Crazyjamaican @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Cmon people its now about being faster or better. Its all about being cool. Don't tell me that your neighbors wont be impressed when they hear you talkin to your pc/tv. and if this is ever integrated with HAL it would be the ultimate gadget. I would expect this from everyday people but #2 you are no doubt a gadget lover. You of all people should know that this is not about being practical. I mean alot of people have an iPod, a digital camera, and a camcorder yet they get a cellphone that can also do all of that but not nearly as well. That is not practical but I still love super cellphones and the same could be said about the psp's movie music and pictue playback features.
Its sort of practical but not really. But both Super Phones and PSP's are really cool super gadgets. So once again its not just about being practical. There is a serious coolness factor. Plus you'll never have to worry about loosing the remote again. 8-) http://www.homeautomatedliving.com/default.htm

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

"Don't tell me that your neighbors wont be impressed when they hear you talkin to your pc/tv."

My guess is they're more likely to think you really, really need to find yourself a girlfriend.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

#5

My girlfriend once bought me a voice controlled remote. It worked pretty well and had some neat functions and let me make some macros. Saying channel names was fun, for a bit. However, it wasn't that easy for the remote to distinguish "ABC" and "NBC" and the like, and in the end I wound up just pushing a couple of buttons instead of saying "eee ess pee en" in the same manner every time.

Was it cool? You bet. Good gift? Definitely. But it just wasn't used very long, and then I had to attempt to explain how it could still be a cool gift even though I didn't wind up using it. I believe I've received clothes ever since.