Topics

1

Off Topic (not related to VC) / Experience with OpenRemote?

« on: April 30, 2015, 03:42:34 PM »

Hello,
I think many of us are on a similar journey.  Home Automation is becoming more popular, cheaper, more available, more powerful, and what we have now is probably going to seem primitive in a few years.  On top of that many of us want speech recognition in our homes.  It seems to me we are in the early stages where new standards and protocols are popping up all the time, change is constant, and it makes this difficult. 

Fortunately we have the diamonds in the rough.  Like VoxCommando. 

To my point... I feel like my implementation is moving kinda slow, requiring a lot of trying this and that, lots of reading and testing, patience.  While I try to get things integrated and working better and better, I need some options to fall back on so the family doesn't bail on me.  I want them to get into this and not 'just use the tv remote'.  So I want to make a custom, simple to use app that anyone at the house can fall back on to control a light, or open Vox Command on a media center where it is not running, these kinds of things.

I started working with OpenRemote.  I'm to the point where I am getting going but I would say still early stages.  I just saw on here iRule so when I am done with this I am going to check it out to see how it compares.

I have some old tablets at the house I can use, my can put it on my wife's phone.  So if there is a hiccup in the system they won't get frustrated with my projects, they can pull out the tablet or phone and be ok.

I was wondering if anyone had recommendations, feedback, advice?  OpenRemote seems like it should do what I need.  And it is free. 

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
tobias.

2

General Discussion / alternate to Python (or Iron Python) for custom coding

« on: April 30, 2015, 03:29:21 PM »

Hello,
As I have stated before, I am not a professional programmer, and I can always stand to learn more.  I first started scripting about 15 years ago.  First languages were Perl, PHP, VBScript, and Javascript.  I got a book on Python and read online.  I am surprised at how many times I have read that Python is a great beginner language.  IMHO, Python is different.  Aside from Python ettiquite, the way things are just really seem to make Python unique to me in comparison to what I just listed.  IMHO the four items I listed all share similarities.

I'm trying to get my wife on board with VoxCommando, home automation, having some fun with technology.  When I was testing the SR program SARAH I had made a learning multiplication tables speech program for the kids.  She would ask the what x times y is and then they would answer and get it right or wrong and be told the correct answer.  My wife wants to get involved more and I really want that to happen.  She wants to make speech math learning stuff for the kids.  I told her she would have to use Python (this was all yesterday).  She looked at Python and then on the way home we talked about it and she told me she didn't care for it and I shared my feelings.

I am wondering, without creating more work for the VC team, how additional scripting/programming support might be accomplished with VC.  When I was testing Castle OS it allowed for C# scripts.  That was great.  I believe that was accomplished by using Mono Develop.  Working with Sarah I was using Javascript.  That is fine.  I would prefer to use something script for most things.  Plus I have to teach my wife all of this (she will self learn too and she is smart so no problem).

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?  Know any paths I could take to use something other than Python?  If I have to use Python I will but I doubt my wife will want to mess with it and I won't really be enjoying it.

If I was asked to recommend... based on my limited knowledge I would lean towards C# script.  That will allow for the use of the .Net library with all the namespaces, importable items through nuget, and should be a very versatile and functional approach.  If not that, then something that can be extended with additional libraries fairly easily.  If someone makes a Wake-On-Lan library and puts it on GitHub, it would be nice to be using a language that would allow us to grab that and use it.

Those of you who are much more knowledgeable in this area may have better ideas or suggestions. 

Thank you,
tobias.

3

General Discussion / Noob question (sorry) but I think it will answer a lot for me

« on: April 23, 2015, 03:04:20 PM »

I apologize.  I have read the Wiki and I have watched the tutorials.  I still have some questions so I thought I would give a specific example and if anyone feels like responding, seeing what I am told might help me with much down the road.

Wink hub got bricked by Quirky.  I have the ability now to fix it myself, but I was already frustrated with the hub so I went out and got a Hue bridge.  All I have are Ge Link lights and Wemo switches so I just needed a hub that would work with the GE Lights and the Hue does.

I got it all setup.  Everything works.  I add the Hue plugin to VC.  I pair with my bridge.  I genXML.  I look at the xml.  Everything looks right.

Now, I got to make my (technically) first commands in VC.  First up is turning lights on and off.  I have 10 bulbs, and 9 of the are in 3 member groups.  Game Room group (3 bulbs), Front Porch group (3 bulbs), Bedroom group (3) bulbs, and then a stand alone torch lamp. 

I do the reading see that I need to do this (for the groups): Hue.Group {1} (id integer of group) "on": true or false

So first confusion (and long story which I won't tell).  First time around I had groups.   After setting up VC som reason my bridge stopped communication with all of my bulbs except the two lux bulbs.  So next night reset bridge and start over.  Everything working again.  I setup 3 scenes (based on the groups I described).  But how do I setup groups?  I don't see a way in the Hue app.  But I know I did it the night before.  When I run genXML I comes back with x number lights, x number scenes, 0 groups.  So I try to make my own groups in groups.xml.  I use same ID number as corresponding scene, and friendly name 'Bedroom'.  Now I make my commands:
The first night I did this it worked.  Last night it didn't.  When I said a group name, it did all the lights.  No matter what group.  So I believe I don't actually have real groups.
I'm going to be linking to the xml but essentially my goal was speak a friendly name for the group which would pass in the id value for {1} and then On Off would translate to true/false and go in as {2}.  First night worked fine.  Last night like I said, it did all lights.  In the xml you will also see where I did a dimming command.  Night before it worked, last night didn't try.

One of my questions is, when you have something like a list of lights like lht_br_1, lht_br_2, is it pretty much best to do a Map?  Is it common to make lots of maps?

I want to do things the smartest, most simple way, and I am concerned ignorance is going to lead me down a path of accomplishing things, but overly complicated.

BTW - the groups.xml - that came from me and VoxCommando.  Whereas, the night before when I set this all up, groups were there, I didn't create them.  But then I googled and what I read said Hue doesn't have groups functionality yet, just lights and scenes so I am not sure how I did it in the first place.

When you have a Map table and you choose the option use both phrases and values, is the logic there the phrase will be the speech, and the value will be what is passed in if the speech matches?

Next, are the values getting passed in always chronological depending on their order in the construction of the command?  So if I use a payloadXML for Value/Phrase for group names like Value 1 / Phrase Bedroom as long as that occurs on my command construction, will that always be {1}?  And then the next thing I pass in, Value = True, Phrase = On, will that be {2} as it occurs after the first payload?

Last night I didn't have a lot of time, it was late, and I may have made mistake or something.  But I want to include the xml so you can see exactly.

Sorry I know this is a very basic stuff, I guess I just need a 'yes you are doing it right' or 'no, you are not taking advantage of what we have setup here'.

I have more noobie questions but this is enough for now.  BTW - you will see my commands for the two Wemo switches.  They work fine.  And for now I am not using Kinect.  I am using VoxWav Pro.  I'll have to work on the Kinect.  It picks up too much noise.

I'm even rushing this question so I doubt I am getting out what my brain needs but it is worth the shot.

Thanks,
tobias.

4

General Discussion / Wink Hub - anyone using this device?

« on: April 18, 2015, 07:33:02 PM »

Hi,
I use this device.  I wanted to start playing around with HA and did not want to invest a lot in the beginning.  I am interested in adding control of my Wink hub managed devices.  I was just curious if anyone else uses this device?

5

General Discussion / Multiple instances running - share the same core configuration?

« on: April 18, 2015, 01:02:24 PM »

Hello,
I apologize is this has been discussed, I tried searching but didn't seem to find the answer. 

Let's say I will have 4 Media Center's in my house.  All running VC.  In addition, VC will be performing other tasks like taking care of home automation, and various other things. 

Obviously I would like all VC clients to be identical without me having to go around and manually configure each one every time I add something or change a plugin, xml, etc. 

Is anyone doing this already?  If so, how did you accomplish this?

Thanks,
tobias.

6

"Open air" and "whole home" microphones / Kinect v1 input level setting doesn't stick

« on: April 18, 2015, 01:06:49 AM »

Hello all,
I have been on a quest to find the best solution for building my home automation, VR system.  I have spent time with various softwares and experimented with different microphones.  I know that using something close to the mouth with a shorter range works much better (Amulet, headset, phone).  I'd really like the ability to be free from having to have a device to communicate. 

At the local GameStop I can get Xbox 360 Kinects with PC adapters for $25.  Considering it was designed to be a room microphone I've been trying to make it work.  I've also tried a MXL A404 mic.  Much of what I have read on here is absolutely true.  Kinect microphones are great at picking up noise.  They are more difficult to get good VR.  They take a lot of tweaking.

I know this much.  You have to set the input level low.  But I am experiencing an issue when using the Kinect with VC.  No sooner do go into the control panel and set the input level, almost immediately my confidence levels drop and I check and the level is always back up around 50.  Can anyone let me know how to prevent this?  I do not use automatic gain,  AEC, or beam angle.  In addition, my best results come from disabling streaming.

I realize the Kinect may never work out unless the house is quiet and everything is set right. But I don't have a chance if the input level keeps increasing to 50.  That makes the Kinect useless.

Maybe in the end I will use a combination of VoxWav Pro, Kinect, Amulet, or other devices, but at $25 it is worth trying to make it work. 

Oh, and without volume reduction when speaking (watching a move and want to pause) again it is pointless.

I have read discussion on here about utilizing tools to target voice frequencies, enhance voice, decrease noise.  I have done my own experimentation and so far nothing has made much difference.

I don't know if jitterjames will see this but I have to say I  am so thoroughly impressed with the documentation here.  I know that it is easy to put off documentation and work on the project, like so many do.  But the documentation here is fantastic and I am so grateful that it is here.  The training videos are excellent too.  Thank you for spending the time creating documenting and training us so that we can better understand, use, and benefit from VoxCommando.  Oh, and VoxCommando itself is so impressive.  The ability to build XML through GUI, and all of the in depth customization options are amazing.  I'm sorry to say I still haven't gotten the ball rolling full force yet with this software but I'm trying to take my time and grasp it before digging in. 

Great work!