I have been a C5 - C6 quadriplegic for over 30 years and have seen a lot of things change regarding technology and equipment. This has allowed me to live my life more independently.

I use a Voice IR (infrared) system with 120 voice commands. I can talk to my television, ceiling fan, heater, light, air conditioner, oscillating fan and Bose123 sound system. What does that mean for me? I can turn the overhead fan, oscillating fan or air conditioner on when I am hot, the heater when I am cold, the television when I want entertainment, turn the light on or off and independently play my music.

This allows for much-needed independence at home. Being a quadriplegic, temperature has always been an issue so being able to change it has truly been a game changer. The receiver has good recognition and I have it mounted on a cabinet at the head of the bed about 3 feet away. The commands are broken down into four sections and you get a different response for each section. So if I want to change the station I say "sound system" and it says "yes sir" and then you tell it the command. The command could be one of many things like CNBC and the channel will change or volume up. If I want to change the temperature I say "temperature control" and it says "how can I help you". If I say macro control I can do a number of commands all at once. So, I say "macro control" and it says "at your service" and I can say something I programmed which is "morning routine". The light comes on, oscillating fan comes on, television comes on and goes to ESPN news and then mute's so that I have captioning, the Bose123 comes on so I have music. All of that with one macro command.

You can create any commands you want as long as the appliance uses an infrared frequency. Be sure to be careful and not get radiofrequency because that will not work. Ask for an infrared fan, air conditioner etc. Most everything that has a remote control is infrared. You have to program all of your commands individually so it is time consuming.

I purchased it at Broadened Horizons (broadenedhorizons.com) 855-BROADEN [****]. The owner of the company has a good understanding of needs as he is also a quadriplegic. Broadened Horizons also offers technical support that you can purchase or that is part of a package. There is not much to it, it is size wise as it is teacup saucer size with a mounting mechanism on the back.

I also purchased the TalkIR ECU Speakerphone so that I can talk to my speaker phone. The TalkIR Speakerphone and Voice IR work together.

I have included some of my preprogrammed commands below to give you ideas on how many different things you can do.

LIGHT COMMANDS

Start light
Turn light off
Light up
WHAT YOU WANT VOICE COMMAND and RESPONSE

Keyword: Temperature Control Response: How can I help you?
Air Conditioner
1. Turn on AC Start air conditioner
Air conditioner power
2. Turn off AC Turn air conditioner off
3. AC Fan speed Fan slower or Fan faster
4. Colder temp Temperature colder
5. Warmer temp Temperature warmer

Oscillating Fan
6. Turn on/off Oscillating fan Start oscillating fan
7. Turn off Oscillating fan Oscillating fan off
8. Make fan oscillate Oscillate
9. Make fan oscillate faster Oscillate faster
10. Ocillating fan Fan Speed

Keyword: SOUND SYSTEM Response: Yes sir?
Television
1. Turn TV on Start Television
2. Turn TV off Television off
3. Mute TV TV Mute

Bose
4. Turn Bose on Bose Power
5. Turn up volume Bose volume up
6. Turn down volume Lower Bose volume
7. Change TV input Bose TV Mode
8. Change music track Bose Change Track
9. Play music Start Music
10. Play whole CD Whole CD
11. Return to playlist Playlist
12. Return to TV Mode Previous Input

Original Article: http://www.assistivetechservices.org/ArticleDisplay.asp?prid=26

I have been a C5 - C6 quadriplegic for over 30 years and have seen a lot of things change regarding technology and equipment. This has allowed me to live my life more independently.

I use a Voice IR (infrared) system with 120 voice commands. I can talk to my television, ceiling fan, heater, light, air conditioner, oscillating fan and Bose123 sound system. What does that mean for me? I can turn the overhead fan, oscillating fan or air conditioner on when I am hot, the heater when I am cold, the television when I want entertainment, turn the light on or off and independently play my music.

This allows for much-needed independence at home. Being a quadriplegic, temperature has always been an issue so being able to change it has truly been a game changer. The receiver has good recognition and I have it mounted on a cabinet at the head of the bed about 3 feet away. The commands are broken down into four sections and you get a different response for each section. So if I want to change the station I say "sound system" and it says "yes sir" and then you tell it the command. The command could be one of many things like CNBC and the channel will change or volume up. If I want to change the temperature I say "temperature control" and it says "how can I help you". If I say macro control I can do a number of commands all at once. So, I say "macro control" and it says "at your service" and I can say something I programmed which is "morning routine". The light comes on, oscillating fan comes on, television comes on and goes to ESPN news and then mute's so that I have captioning, the Bose123 comes on so I have music. All of that with one macro command.

You can create any commands you want as long as the appliance uses an infrared frequency. Be sure to be careful and not get radiofrequency because that will not work. Ask for an infrared fan, air conditioner etc. Most everything that has a remote control is infrared. You have to program all of your commands individually so it is time consuming.

I purchased it at Broadened Horizons (broadenedhorizons.com) 855-BROADEN [****]. The owner of the company has a good understanding of needs as he is also a quadriplegic. Broadened Horizons also offers technical support that you can purchase or that is part of a package. There is not much to it, it is size wise as it is teacup saucer size with a mounting mechanism on the back.

I also purchased the TalkIR ECU Speakerphone so that I can talk to my speaker phone. The TalkIR Speakerphone and Voice IR work together.

I have included some of my preprogrammed commands below to give you ideas on how many different things you can do.

LIGHT COMMANDS

Start light
Turn light off
Light up
WHAT YOU WANT VOICE COMMAND and RESPONSE

Keyword: Temperature Control Response: How can I help you?
Air Conditioner
1. Turn on AC Start air conditioner
Air conditioner power
2. Turn off AC Turn air conditioner off
3. AC Fan speed Fan slower or Fan faster
4. Colder temp Temperature colder
5. Warmer temp Temperature warmer

Oscillating Fan
6. Turn on/off Oscillating fan Start oscillating fan
7. Turn off Oscillating fan Oscillating fan off
8. Make fan oscillate Oscillate
9. Make fan oscillate faster Oscillate faster
10. Ocillating fan Fan Speed

Keyword: SOUND SYSTEM Response: Yes sir?
Television
1. Turn TV on Start Television
2. Turn TV off Television off
3. Mute TV TV Mute

Bose
4. Turn Bose on Bose Power
5. Turn up volume Bose volume up
6. Turn down volume Lower Bose volume
7. Change TV input Bose TV Mode
8. Change music track Bose Change Track
9. Play music Start Music
10. Play whole CD Whole CD
11. Return to playlist Playlist
12. Return to TV Mode Previous Input

Original Article: http://www.assistivetechservices.org/ArticleDisplay.asp?prid=26

Assistive Technology Coordinator, Center for Independence of the Disabled
San Mateo, California
I just wanted to let you know that we have successfully installed and programed a VoiceIR [System's Voice Controller] unit for my client George Dill who is a quad. Even though there is a lot of room noise produced by his bed and other mediucal equipment, it works well enough that he can control his HDTV, TIVO and sound system using his voice. His voice is very weak, so this is a miracle of sorts.

Now that I've gotten some things working with the VoiceIR it's already given me so much freedom and I'm very happy to be able to control things on my own even if it's just the TV and stereo [adding control over bed, deadbolt, & door opener]. Thank you for making these available.

Just wanted to let you know that I set up M.G.'s VoiceIR QuickStart Package today, and it works like a charm!!! Very very easy to program, easy to change commands, great for him (being blind) because he can tell if it's recognized his command. What I was also happy about was that his voice recognition was the same no matter what position he is in in bed. We got all the TV commands programmed, and they work beautifully for him. He's thrilled with the independence this affords him. Next week we will do the stereo and satellite radio, as well as his assistance call chime system. Thanks again. It's a wonderful system for someone who is blind and paralyzed -- he can finally have a bit of independence, which is hard to come by in his situation!