Vocalize! System Details

Vocalize! System Details

Back to Vocalize or VoiceBT

Individual Components & Recommended Mounting

System Components	Images	Typical Mounting Location
Vocalize! Brain Box (2"x5")		Velcro to bottom of wheelchair seat pan
Lapel Microphone		Attach near chin / sip & puff controller, Clip to front of shirt or on bed
Flex Wheelchair Headrest Microphone		Attaches to wheelchair headrest post behind neck, backrest, push handle, to bed, or side of Wheelchair Phone Mount. Swings away for transfers.
Crystal-Clear speaker with volume adjustment		Bolt to backrest or side of wheelchair seat pan
Choose Lithium-Ion Battery Pack or Wheelchair Battery Power Adapter (see alternatives / upgrades below)		Compact Battery Pack Velcros to bottom of seat, Adapter plugs into wheelchair charging socket or connects directly to wheelchair battery terminals so nothing to forget to recharge. No noticeable impact on wheelchair
Dual switch Programming / optional manual control interface		Velcro to top / side of joystick controller, bottom / side of armrest, headrest, backrest, or wherever convenient. If not used, bundle up after programming complete Power switch allows system to be disabled during important meetings, in theaters, etc. or just to conserve battery power when not in use.
Mini accessible pushbutton Power switch with LED indicators
Bed Kit		Patch cable, & 25' extension cable to use extra microphone for bed headboard/side rail and plug into Vocalize! on nearby wheelchair when recharging overnight.

Vocalize Hardware Components warranted by Broadened Horizons for 90 days from invoice date.

Excludes physical damage or mishandling. Reasonably priced replacement parts are available.

How Vocalize Works

Placing a Call

Say "Telephone" or press green control button. System beeps to prompt for a contact name

Say contact name

If not understood, system asks to repeat (1 time)

Number is dialed if only one number available for contact

If multiple numbers available for contact, system beeps prompting user to specify "Home", "Work", or "Cellular"

Digit Dial by Voice

Say "Dial 7-6-3-3-9-2-1-4-5-1"

Requires Windows Mobile Smartphone Advanced Voice Control Upgrade

or place a call to preprogrammed Cingular VoiceDial (*8) or Sprint Voice Command addressbook contact (*Talk/ *OK)

Answering/Rejecting a Call

Say "Telephone" or press green control button

Say "Hang up" or press red control button

Ending a Call

Say "Hang up" or press red control button

Switch calls to wired headset for privacy

Once call is connected, press green call/privacy control button

Retrieve Voicemail

Check your Home and Cell voicemail online or e-mailed to you free using GotVoice

Comparison: Advanced Voice Control Package vs Standard Capabilities

Calling Organizer Capabilities	Advanced Voice Control Upgrade	Vocalize Internal Std. Phonebook Capabilities
Answer and Hang up by voice	Yes	Yes
Call phonebook contacts by voice	<2000	up to 150
Understands anyone without training	Yes
Train voiceprint or only unique sound for each contact		Yes
Digit dial by voice	Yes	Cingular or Sprint Service
Callback missed call & redial by voice	Yes
Easy to use with natural voice prompts	Unbelievable	Basic
Announces incoming callers	Advanced	Phonebook
Check time, day, signal & phone battery strength by voice	Yes
Review calendar appointments & tasks by voice, announces reminders	Yes
Reads incoming text msgs & e-mail aloud	Yes
Dictate text messages and e-mail with voice recognition	Separate $6 Monthly Service for Windows Mobile 5.0 Phones only
Digital Media Player Capabilities (the Apple IPodTM is a digital media player)
Play music, audiobooks, & full-length DVD movies by voice	Yes
Open gateway by voice to Play Media through Vocalize Loudspeaker to share	Yes
Play media and calls by voice through any FM stereo using USB Car Charger & FM Transmitter accessory	Yes

Detailed Features & Benefits

Broad Compatibility

Any cell phone service provider worldwide!

(i.e. Cingular (Recommended - read why), Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint,Vodafone, Alltell, Rogers, Orange, etc.

Most cell phones supporting the Bluetooth "Hands-free" profile. Compatibility reference. (Some phones only support Bluetooth "Headset" profile)

No need to even see the phone! Great for those with vision impairments or blindness.

Also works great with augmented of communication devices such as Dynavox

Safety & peace of mind.

Call for help anywhere, anytime when it is really needed most.

Included Bed Kit extends usage to your bed to call for help with only your voice 24 hours a day in an emergency, when an aid does not show up, when another phone cannot be reached, during a power outage or natural disaster, or just to chat with family and friends while relaxing in bed and using free night & weekend minutes.

Safely answer or place calls while driving with hand controls! [Warning: Using a cell phone, even with complete voice control requires your attention. Using a cell phone, even with the Vocalize system, while you are operating a motor vehicle may be distracting, dangerous, and illegal in some states or countries.]

Advanced design helps to eliminate feedback, allowing for simultaneous speaking and listening.

Full-duplex conversations with echo cancellation, background noise reduction, and proprietary noise canceling technology. Similar technology as built into many new luxury cars!

Sensitive, durable, top-quality flexible boom mike positioned near user's collar swings away for transfers

Crystal clear, volume-adjustable speaker soft enough not to be overheard or loud enough to be heard in a noisy factory or crowd environment

Pair with up to 3 cell phones or other Bluetooth devices (cannot be used simultaneously)

Wheelchair Integrated

Nothing to Charge every night or to forget to plug in to charge. Runs directly off power wheelchair batteries, simply recharge wheelchair normally (rechargeable battery available for manual wheelchairs)

Mounts unobtrusively to wheelchair so it's virtually unnoticeable yet always available without getting in the way of transfers or having to ask someone for help.

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Why not an inexpensive voice controlled Bluetooth Headset?

The reasons are technical. ALL Bluetooth headsets require pushing a small button. Voice control requires much more complex circuitry which takes up more space on a circuit board and what can fit off of ones ear. Also complete voice control requires the device to be listening for a magic keyword at all times. This draws power constantly and would require a battery much bigger than one could fit into a small headset which hooks over the ear. So maybe someday, unless of an elephant has a need for a voice controlled Bluetooth headset!

BBC News - Headset Hassles and Bluetooth Aches

...interesting article regarding cell phone manufacturers ignoring needs of users without use of their hands