In 1962, Hanna-Barbera Production, Inc. produced a cartoon titled “The Jetsons” that featured the Jetson family living in a utopian future having incredible conveniences based on communication devices, large and small displays, and even robots. Everything they wanted required only a voice command or a push of a button.
In 1966, a television show titled “Star Trek” debuted that followed the interstellar adventures of James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. Star Trek is known for its influence on the world outside of science fiction for inspiring inventions such as desktop and tablet computers, wireless head phones, biometrics, cell phones, and even the automated sliding door.
An epic science fiction film released in 1968 titled “2001: A Space Odyssey” follows a voyage of a U.S. spacecraft to Jupiter. The film had tablet computers like Star Trek but also had two-way video conferencing, a suitcase phone, a voice controlled chessboard, and a sentient computer named HAL having artificial intelligence.
Forty-three years later, Apple® introduced the iPhone 4S®, which includes a computer program called Siri® that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator. Siri uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions. Siri adapts to a user's individual language usage and preferences and returns individualized results.
Many vehicles now offer various features activated by voice commands such as making telephone calls, selecting music, and interfacing with car navigation systems to find nearby restaurants, hotels or gas stations or to receive driving directions to a known address. Pioneer sells a car receiver that connects to an iPhone to take advantage of Siri® Eyes Free functionality including listening to text messages, calendar information, and reminders.
A home automation system integrates electrical devices in a house with each other. The techniques employed in home automation include those in building automation as well as the control of domestic activities, such as home entertainment systems, houseplant and yard watering, pet feeding, changing the ambiance “scenes” for different events (such as dinners or parties), lighting control system, and the use of domestic robots. Devices may be connected through a home network to allow control by a personal computer, and may allow remote access from the internet. Through the integration of information technologies (e.g., PCs, phones) with the home environment, systems and appliances can communicate in an integrated manner which results in convenience, energy efficiency, and safety benefits.
Automated “homes of the future” have been staple exhibits for World's Fairs and popular backgrounds in science fiction. However, problems with complexity, competition between vendors, multiple incompatible standards, and the resulting expense have limited the penetration of home automation to homes of the wealthy or ambitious hobbyists.
Current voice-controlled home automation systems typically involve wall-mounted control panels that provide a combination of touch and voice-controlled features. Such systems typically require a person to be standing next to the control panel, which substantially limits the ‘value add’ of using voice commands over using touch features of the control panel or a phone.
Technology improvements are needed to remove current limitations and inefficiencies of home (and business) automation systems.