Little things that bring a smile to your face 2. (The sequel)

[randombs]

How old were you when you went to bed?

28. Holy mofos that Kopparberg was a bad idea!

[Brad]

I won't bore you with the details, but my Dad has CIPD, which, basically, is a condition that affects the nerve endings.
He's gone from being a competitive cyclist to being stuck in a wheelchair.

One of the side-effects of this is his hands really shake (ataxia). Any action with his hands is incredibly infuriating, from using a mobile phone to operating a remote control.

Obviously, all that bit's an irk, but the smile bit is that I've been working on being able to control the telly with his voice.

I've tried lots of things including large remotes (they don't control all the telly functions) and I can't get hold of some specialist voice-activated remotes either. The council gave him a box that goes through every option on the remote. Every option! So if you wanted to go up three times, you'd have to site through the list of commands three times!
TV on
TV off
Volume up
Volume down
Channel up "YES!"
*repeat three times*

Pointless!

So, I've done something myself!

Using a laptop with Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice-recognition software, I can give keyboard commands to control this Virgin Tivo software.

It's been a real faff - downloading the software, updating the Windows SP, buying and installing headphones, putting the Tivo box on the network using powerline adaptors, making the Tivo box contollable online and so on.

However, I was testing it at lunch and it was working pretty good. There's a few kinks to iron out, but even on my initial go, I was changing channels, recording shows, series linking, browsing the guide, fast forward and rewinding and playing pre-recorded shows.

I'd do anything to take away his condition, but I'll settle with making his day a little more bearable.

I hope he likes it! I'm showing my Mom tonight and she might order Virgin telly (they have broadband already), then he can watch telly a bit easier.

This is my favorite internet story this week. Good stuff mate. Hope your old man finds it useful.

[charlesr]

A friend is talking about the awesomeness of the Apple AirPort Extreme on facebook and how he can extend the wireless range to his basement via his iPhone. I'm chuckling to myself because my router does all the same stuff, has an extra ethernet port and is ?50 cheaper. It also sends wireless down the other end of my garden (after going through 3 walls) and provides wireless effortlessly throughout the house. It's not white though which is probably an issue. He's probably about to read it here, but I didn't dare mention it in facebook because it's like pouring water on an electrical fire - pretty much committing suicide.

I can understand wanting to pay more for the iPhone and Macbook and stuff because they are fairly well made and designed. But for a box that just sits there forever untouched it just shows that Apple has the most amazing loyalty factor. Other brands must be terrified of them.

I checked the manual. First words: "Congratulations on purchasing AirPort Extreme". Was it a hard thing to achieve then? And shouldn't there be an "an" in there?

Anyway, I'm smiling.

[Dogg Thang]

QC, that's awesome. Well done!

[nakamura]

Awesome QC! It was so good in fact I am prepared to overlook the use of the word 'Mom'.

[ItsThere]

A friend is talking about the awesomeness of the Apple AirPort Extreme on facebook and how he can extend the wireless range to his basement via his iPhone. I'm chuckling to myself because my router does all the same stuff, has an extra ethernet port and is ?50 cheaper. It also sends wireless down the other end of my garden (after going through 3 walls) and provides wireless effortlessly throughout the house. It's not white though which is probably an issue. He's probably about to read it here, but I didn't dare mention it in facebook because it's like pouring water on an electrical fire - pretty much committing suicide.

I can understand wanting to pay more for the iPhone and Macbook and stuff because they are fairly well made and designed. But for a box that just sits there forever untouched it just shows that Apple has the most amazing loyalty factor. Other brands must be terrified of them.

I checked the manual. First words: "Congratulations on purchasing AirPort Extreme". Was it a hard thing to achieve then? And shouldn't there be an "an" in there?

Anyway, I'm smiling.

All Apple products refer to themselves as the definitive article. The One rather than One of Many. Because they love themselves and live in their own arses.

[QualityChimp]

Thanks guys!

My Dad's getting treatment at hospital at the moment (plasma exchange), so my Mom cancelled the premier unveiling last night as she was cream crackered, but that meant I could fiddle a bit more at lunch and fine-tune it.

It's not really fair to test it whilst my wife is watching telly. It would be a bit annoying have it flicking channels whilst she's trying to watch "How Clean Is Your Property Ladder On Ice?".

I'm still buzzing and can't wait to show them. I can control every single button on the remote with my voice!

[Dogg Thang]

How do you know how to do that sort of thing? What's your day job? The closest I can get to anything like that is making a computer write 'boobies' on repeat in BASIC.

[kryss]

Awesome QC! It was so good in fact I am prepared to overlook the use of the word 'Mom'.

Remarkably generous!

[J0e Musashi]

I've said Mom all my life. I hate how I have to buy cards with Mum written on them and close the U into an O.

This isn't the irk thread is it.

[charlesr]

Actually since this thread is now 6 pages, I can open the irks thread again.

Awesome work QC and also awesome "How Clean Is Your Property Ladder On Ice?" gag.

[Decider-VT]

The irks thread has overtaken this one again already.

[nakamura]

Thanks guys!

My Dad's getting treatment at hospital at the moment (plasma exchange), so my Mom cancelled the premier unveiling last night as she was cream crackered, but that meant I could fiddle a bit more at lunch and fine-tune it.

It's not really fair to test it whilst my wife is watching telly. It would be a bit annoying have it flicking channels whilst she's trying to watch "How Clean Is Your Property Ladder On Ice?".

I'm still buzzing and can't wait to show them. I can control every single button on the remote with my voice!

Will the treatment help much?

[NW2013]

The irks thread being unlocked.

[QualityChimp]

Re: Little things that bring a smile to your face 2. (The sequel)

Will the treatment help much?

It's a temporary boost.

At present, he can't even stand up, but after the plasma exchange he can walk short distances with a frame.

How do you know how to do that sort of thing? What's your day job? The closest I can get to anything like that is making a computer write 'boobies' on repeat in BASIC.

I'm a hand model.

It's nothing complex, I've just thought a lot about it and combined about four different things to make it work.

I might do a YouTube video so others can benefit.