A Voice-Controlled TV Remote

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."

Best feature

[bonch]

Of course, the best feature of a voice-controlled remote would be to yell out, "Where the hell are you?" and have it respond, "Over here!"

Old Technology

[sparkhead]

We had these when I was a kid.

They were called "children".

Re:voice control

[imsabbel]

I agree.
Voice recoginition is fine if the result is supposed to be a text, but commands?

Its like in star trek. Think about how many battles would have been won if they had a big red "fire phaser" and a green "modulate shield frequency" button an the captains chair (instead of wasting time speaking it out everytime) :)

Nothing new about this...

[suitepotato]

...which would be well known to anyone in the custom high-end AV biz. It's also probably a bad idea as sooner or later an argument in the family room erupts over which channel to watch and the system has a nervous breakdown as it hears "Nickolodeon!" "MTV!" "Golf!" and so on until you go back to the good old fashioned button remote.

From the article

[Infinityis]

It comes with a handy reference card that helpfully explains "You can also find an actor in an Adult program by saying 'Find Adult Actor' and the actor's name".

Aha! The true purpose is revealed! Naturally, one's hands will be occupied when searching for adult actors...

Re:Worthless...

[Anonymous Coward]

But imagine the success you'll have during lunch break at your workplace: "...so I was watching some TV and someone in the show yelled TURN OFF, and it made my voice-controlled TV remote turn off my TV! Isn't that hilarious?!"

Oh god no...

[qyiet]

Personally, I'm waiting for the version that interfaces with your brain.

What, so it changes to the playboy channel every 3 min?

This is...

[fm6]

Personally, I'm waiting for the version that interfaces with your brain.

Assuming you have one left, after all that TV...

Re:Old Technology

[Infinityis]

Yes, but this has the added feature of not being able to reply, "But I did it last time! Make Johhny get up and do it."

My voice-activated remote control is broken

[rocjoe71]

My voice-activated remote control is broken. I keep asking for cooking shows about "prawns" and I get something wayyyy different.

Re:Best feature

[Anonymous Coward]

"You're sitting on me you dolt!"

Re:Email Powered?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but that would suck if someone, somehow, exploited it and sent something like "Record ALL Spongebob episodes" to your remote and you're a single man with no kids.

Then someone comes over and see all the recordings of Spongebob on your DVR, and they're like "WTF man!?" and you're like "it wasn't me, I'm dead serious" and they're all like "yeah ok, loser" and they go on to tell everyone and your known as the 23 year old who watches Spongebob Squarepants and every time you go outside someone points and laughs at you, "Haha! You watch kiddie shows!" and you try to deny it and have continual emotional outbursts, you're like "NO I DON'T, THAT DUDE MADE IT UP!"

Then you die and on your grave it says:

Here lies the loser that watched Spongebob all his life

RIP

PS: Enjoy those episodes, wierdo.

I know because this happened to uh.. a friend.. and he died in grief. In grief, man, in grief!

So, I'm strongly against this "e-mail powered" technology, it is fatal.

works great until...

[the-build-chicken]

...you watch a show about the english channel and the increase in the volume of ships using it.

Re:Best feature

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't try to anthropomorphize objects, they hate it when you do this!

Re:voice control

[flyingsquid]

Its like in star trek. Think about how many battles would have been won if they had a big red "fire phaser" and a green "modulate shield frequency" button an the captains chair (instead of wasting time speaking it out everytime) :)

Seat belts. How come they never had seat belts, even though they were always flying out of their chairs?

If I were going to battle the Enterprise, I'd get a starship with a bigass bumper, heavily padded chairs, airbags, and of course, lots and lots of seat belts. Just ram them at high speed... and then send in a boarding party with spatulas to clean up the mess.

A New Comedy Show

[spiritusvuylt]

What happens when a show has a a character giving commands to his TV? I don't know about most shows, but the Simpsons would definitely have fun with it.