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New Product! EasyVR Development Kit — Parallax Forums

New Product! EasyVR Development Kit

Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
edited 2013-08-01 21:05 in General Discussion
As Emily Kurze posted here Parallax has a new product, the EasyVR Development Kit.

I'm trying to figure out how this is different than the SayIt module Parallax used to sell?

As far as I can tell, the second board with an USB connector, is mainly used to interface the EasyVR with a PC. This eliminates the need for a bridge program to be loaded to a Basic Stamp or a Propeller.

Does anyone know if the EasyVR in a drop in replacement for the SayIt? I'm guessing it is.

I think there's some SayIt demo code in the OBEX and I posted some Propeller SayIt code in this thread. I'd be surprised if this code doesn't work with the EasyVR.

The original SayIt demo code for the Basic Stamp should also work with the EasyVR.

I'm glad to see this item for sale from Parallax.

Comments

  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2013-07-26 15:17
    ... you will spend more time training your voice commands and developing your application than with other speech recognition modules that are available.

    Is this what they meant to say?
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-07-26 17:01
    I agree Rich. I think this paragraph from the product page could use some improvement.
    Combining the easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the documented serial protocol that enables you to access and program the EasyVR through the host board, you will spend more time training your voice commands and developing your application than with other speech recognition modules that are available.

    I think they're trying to point out the second board with the USB connection lets you start using the EasyVR without having to deal with loading a bridge program on your microcontroller. This lets you "spend time training your voice commands and developing your application" instead of spending time trying to figure out how to interface with the EasyVR.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-07-27 21:18
    Anyone else have that "Gotta Have It" feeling? I am thinking of buying one but I may wait to hear what others say about it.
  • Tim-MTim-M Posts: 522
    edited 2013-07-27 23:07
    NWCCTV wrote: »
    Anyone else have that "Gotta Have It" feeling? I am thinking of buying one but I may wait to hear what others say about it.

    I sure do... my mouse finger is itchn'! I'm a big fan of speech recognition based on Sensory components, it seems to be some of the best executed to date.

    I'd like to emulate the voice command home automation module called VoicePod which I believe is also based on the Sensory chipset. Take a look at the videos at www.voicepod.com , the attention word or phrase and voice menu systems are the same as EasyVR.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-07-28 00:39
    I'm pretty sure these do everything the SayIt does and perhaps a bit more.

    While these can be used with a Basic Stamp they are much more useful with a Propeller since the Prop can listen for input from the module while actively doing other things. With the Basic Stamp, the Stamp has to stop and wait for input from the module and will miss any commands when it's not actively listening. When the Stamp is listening for the module, it can't do anything else.

    You'll have trouble using this on a robot while the robot is in motion (the noise from the motors will likely interfere with the device). You'll either need to have the robot stop and listen or use the module on a remote device and send the new commands wirelessly to the robot.

    If I didn't already have two SayIt modules, I'd get one of these.

    Having the mic on a wire makes this module much more useful than the SayIt. I actually removed the mic from one SayIt to use on wire. I also removed the additional PCB from the same SayIt.

    If anyone would rather have a SayIt than one of these modules, I'll trade my unmodified SayIt for an EasyVR module.

    @NWCCTV, If you buy one and don't like it, I'll buy it off you for $45. Now it's not such a risky purchase. IMO, these things are pretty cool.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-07-28 22:04
    @NWCCTV, If you buy one and don't like it
    It's not so much a matter of liking it, it's that I have so many other things going on that I will need to fit that in also. Oh well, I will just order one and get to it when I can!!! I need to see what the "Deal of the Day" is today and place my order.
  • shemuwelshemuwel Posts: 3
    edited 2013-07-29 10:12
    I already have brought the EasyVR when I was working with the arduino platform but mine is green and not blue. Is this version any different or is it just that Parallax is now selling it also. Also does anyone know of any sample code for use for the EasyVR and the propeller chip?

    This is the link to the one that I have
    http://www.robotshop.com/easyvr-speech-voice-recognition-module.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=jos

    Thanks
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2013-07-29 10:32
    It looks to be boards produced by VeeaR, but with blue solder mask.

    I doesn't look like there is any Spin code from Parallax at this time, (it's a brand new item)

    This link may help with some code:

    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/139017-Say-it-Module-disappearance?p=1086214&viewfull=1#post1086214
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-07-29 13:44
    shemuwel wrote: »
    does anyone know of any sample code for use for the EasyVR and the propeller chip?

    Check post #1. The Prop code for the SayIt should work for the EasyVR.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-07-29 17:33
    If you get it working with the SayIt code please post about it in this thread. I would rellay like to buy one but I want to make sure there is known code that will work with it.
  • xanatosxanatos Posts: 1,120
    edited 2013-07-30 08:19
    Glad to see this item is back. My Speaking, Voice Controlled Home Automation System relied on the SayIt module. Now that I have a bit more propeller skills, I'm hoping to redo that whole project and make it a quantum leap more functional.

    Does anyone know if the same limits apply to this module as to the SayIt, in terms of total number of custom phrases that can be programmed? I didn't see the number in the User Manual, although - just like the SayIt module - you can only program one other custom trigger word in addition to the default "robot", so I'm guessing that we are still limited to 16 or 32 user-defined phrases...?
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2013-07-30 08:30
    xanatos wrote: »
    I'm guessing that we are still limited to 16 or 32 user-defined phrases...?

    Page 5 of the new manual lists the speaker dependent words as 32. Same as the SayIt.
  • xanatosxanatos Posts: 1,120
    edited 2013-07-30 08:34
    Not sure how I missed that... oh wait, I haven't had more than 3 hours sleep in the past week... :-)

    Thanks for being my non-fuzzy eyes on that item Duane :-)
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-08-01 21:05
    Does anyone know if Parallax will be releasing their own documentation for this? All I see are docs for Ardontno.
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