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Hi all,
I've been playing with VXML and wanted some pet projects to help me learn. So
I've been looking at my hobbies for applications.
I am continually amazed at how many of you can remember so many LEGO set
numbers/names/prices and other stats. I'm terrible at that and there must be
others of you out there too. Sometimes I'm in a store and find LEGO on sale
but don't know the original price and getting that info from the store is often
trying.
So, I've created an application that will allow you to phone in and speak (or
use your keypad) set numbers and hear back a brief message with the set name
and original price. I have most sets from the past four years entered at this
point since those are the most likely to appear on sale shelves.
I'd be keen to hear:
if it works (or not) for you
problems that you had using it
suggestions for improvement
etc.
I'm preliminarily calling it L-Shop: the LEGO shopping utility, but if someone
else has used that name, I'd find a new one right away (searching LUGNET turns
up no references to L-Shop, LShop, L Shop, etc.).
You can access L-Shop in North America by dialing 1-800-555-TELL (8355) and
keying in 1-57467 or saying "extensions" and then "57467" once the voice
handler has you.
It'll ask for set numbers and return the US name of the set and the MSRP if the
number is in my DB. If it didn't understand part of the number you spoke or if
that set isn't in the DB, it will tell you that set isn't in the DB.
The speech synthesizer is rough right now, I'm still learning how to tweak
inflection and the like. I might end up just recording the initial greeting
and then trying to improve the synth from the DB. If you are in a noisy
environment, you might get best results by inputting with your keypad but I've
found the voice-recognition to be pretty good. It _seems_ so far to be a
little better at recognizing male voices than female, but I'll know more after
hearing back from some of you.
If anyone out there is doing VXML and has suggestions, that'd be great!
Chris
PS - I wasn't sure where this should go so I set FUT .general. If you know
better, feel encouraged to direct the thread.
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Message has 7 Replies:
 | | Re: Access a LEGO set DB with your phone!
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| (...) wow - neat! are you entering all the data by hand? perhaps you could use the LUGNET Guide data, so you could enter all the data? Also, would it be possible to add the rest of the info, like piece count, fig count, etc? maybe have it say if (...) (23 years ago, 11-Mar-02, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Access a LEGO set DB with your phone!
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| Cool! What speech synthesis package are you using? It kind of reminds me of the AT&T Text to speech system (femail option). If it is, try using the male voice, he's much more pleasant/amusing to listen to. (URL) used to have fun with that at work, (...) (23 years ago, 11-Mar-02, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Access a LEGO set DB with your phone!
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| (...) It worked for this female voice calling from California. And I didn't use the keypad at all beyond the original number. (...) Isn't it a shame that we feel compelled to make these comments in hopes of forestalling another major *appropriate (...) (23 years ago, 11-Mar-02, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Access a LEGO set DB with your phone!
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| (...) Chris, Very cool application of vxml, I like it. It's definitely more interesting than the vxml stuff I use at work. If you haven't already, try the IBM Voice Server SDK out, it's really handy for developing vxml apps. Take care, Gary (23 years ago, 11-Mar-02, to lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Access a LEGO set DB with your phone!
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| (...) For the benefit of the curious outside of North America, what is this 1-800 TELL service? Since it's 1-800, I assume it's a free call. Who runs it and how do they get revenue from it? Kerry (23 years ago, 13-Mar-02, to lugnet.general)
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