Home environmental control system for the disabled

Abstract

This paper discusses the home environmental control system based on X-10 devices, self-designed and developed software, and tablet PC. Software is designed and developed under the visual studio.net 2005 platform and using visual basic programming, which can be installed and run in any PC under Operating System of windows 2000 or / and XP. A voice controlled, user-friendly user interface is carefully designed, so that user can use not only standard keyboard and mouse, but also the voice to control home environments including lights, TV, radio, VCD/DVD player, fan, and air conditioner. Furthermore, the self-deigned software applies home automation control idea to internet access and PC application software access with the features of surfing the internet, sending and receiving emails, using other PC software such as Microsoft office. Considering the disabled has difficulty to move around and control their hands and fingers, the system is more valuable and useful to these people and will provide great convenient to them. Testing has been demoed that the accuracy of voice commands can reach as high as over 90% under quiet environments.