[Elvis Impersonator] spent three full days but in that time he managed to hand control of everything in his house over to Siri. The technique used is a familiar one. A Raspberry Pi running SiriProxy listens for commands from the iPhone and acts on them based on [Elvis’] predefined configuration. The difference here is that it’s not just a single device (read: lamp) that is being controlled to prove the concept. His video (embedded after the break) shows him operating an entire range of devices in his home.
The demonstration starts off with his garage door being opened and closed. From the YouTube video description we know that he’s using Trendnet IP cameras and it looks like one of them lets him see if he remembered to close the garage. Next he disarms his home security system as shown in the image above. From there he adjusts the Nest thermostat, switches off the living room lights, and changes the TV channels.
We think the need to give voice commands would get old pretty quickly. But that aside we applaud his work to pull everything together into one single interface.
Why cant it control the Kitchen sink??? that shouldn’t be too hard/
Technically, it can, but there’s a clause in the iOS SDK that prevents apps from O&AM (Operations,Administration,Management) of a long list of, mostly, kitchen furniture and equipment. Something to do with duplicated functionality, but I don’t see how.
Siri won’t do your dishes. I’ve asked her and she bluntly refused. Nothing you can do there.
I have automated my home using conveniently placed wall-mounted function keys.
I thought I was the only one who’d come up with such a method. I should probably look into billing you for license fees…
Wow, uhm.. Hope nobody ever hacks your phone..
can we stop calling remote control home automation? thanks.
Yeah! Automation implies that you don’t have to do anything!
notdave: automation does not mean what you think it does.
The definition of automation is: “the use of machines, control systems and information technologies to optimize productivity in the production of goods and delivery of services.”
Therefore, home automation is the correct term.
Looks to me that this is not home automation. More like remote controlling. Triggering the start of your washer, is not automating your laundry task, is just remote triggering your washer. Automation seems more like serializing tasks, triggered by the remote (i.e. You click the button, and clothes are moved to the washer, washed, moved to dryer and dried).
Now, it’s a very cool project, and he has control over a large amount of appliances, but task automation… I don’t see it.
There is no optimization. What he would do by hand he is now doing by voice. He is still doing.
The garage door is one of the most simple examples. He still has to look at the camera to see if the door is open before he uses his voice to close it. That’s almost the exact same thing as going to see the door is open and then pressing the button.
Automation would be, a switch on the door knows if it is up. If it is still up after x number of minutes of arriving home then closes the door. Or at least alerts the user if the garage is open and asks them if they want to close it (yes/no). Then there would have been some optimization. Right now it’s just a remote.
Using my remote to change channels on my TV, not automation. Using my voice through siri to change channels, not automation. Having TV turned on, and tuned to the channel I like when I walk through the door after work….that’s automation.
thank you.
The washing machine, and the garage door opener are the automation part.
BTW, I don’t mean to marginalize the work put in here. This is cool stuff. It’s very well executed and the work is encompassing of a lot of items. Very Cool!
Could something like this be done for Android?
Something similar is possible with a Bluetooth modem, arduino and an app like Android Meets Robot: Voice
Yes! I have worked it out in a proof of concept:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13b0-uhZ5Rc
I am doing it using android’s voice to text and PHP
Serious inquiry; when can we ‘siri mow my lawn’, or siri clean the dishes.
I will make a list here, a manifest, things I do not want to do, someone automate them;
dishes
laundry (washing, drying, folding, putting away)
food shop
vaccum (no, that irobot doesnt work on lotsa dog hair)
driving to work (no train or bus goes the way i go)
As far as vacuum – I got a Neato robot for Christmas and the thing is awesome. Seriously awesome. http://www.neatorobotics.com
I had home “automation” 10 to 15 years ago. I’d say “do the washing up” or “clean your bedroom” and it happened. Sadly my “automaton” left home, grew up and is now “developing his own”
I can totally understand the uses of this, however I feel this should be more of an augmented system for when you need it. Example, sitting watching tv. I want to watch adult swim, but I don’t know the channel. Just tell siri I want to watch adult swim.
But can it flush the toilet?
Yes, but Apple take 30% of the proceeds of the transaction.
Flushing money down the drain
So everything is electronically controllable next step would be allowing a computer to make decisions based on your location GPS , patterns in behavior detects and camera image recognition.
Meh, I’ve had voice activated home automation for a couple of decades, it’s called “kids”.
Not home automation. And I highly doubt the light. There is an edit at that point in the video so he faked it.
This is remote control. Calling it home automation is the same as calling a remote control car a “robot” It’s not. no matter how hard you wish it was, it’s still just a remote control.
Well the automation part is where you write bedtimestories.sh and put it in your cron tab of whatever server controls everything.
What is the point of issuing voice commands if you have to press a button before you do?
Why not just have an app with soft buttons and menus for all the things you want?
It’ll be quicker than speaking the commands.
When this has continuous speech recognition it’ll be cooler.
Not really home automation but cool nonetheless. Has anyone tried WeMo? Here’s a review about the products they have out now: http://www.homeautomationist.com/ces-2013-belkin-wemo-wifi-remote-control-light-switch-android-compatible/ I want to try but they only have a few devices out right now.