Siri Universal Remote

Check out this project from SparkFun's own Todd Treece.

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Today we have a very cool project from SparkFun's own Todd Treece. First off, let me give you all a warning - there is a little bit of audible salty language in the below video. So if you're at work, maybe don't crank the volume - though that's what headphones are for, right? - and you might want to think twice before showing your kids the video if you don't want them hearing a few computer-voiced curse words. With that said, this a really solid project and worth watching, so check it out!

As you can see, Todd hacked the "Siri" function of the iPhone 4S to turn his phone into a speech controlled universal remote. Not only does it change the channel, but it kinda insults you at the same time! Now that's innovation! How did he do it? Well, Todd created a box that is outfitted with an Arduino and a WiFly shield. It is set up with an IR LED facing the TV to act as the control. By using SiriProxy, you can change the channel by the network's name or by calling out the channel number.

If you're thinking, "Sweet! How do I make one?", you might interested in checking out the SparkFun wish list for this project! Awesome work, Todd!


Comments 19 comments

  • subsonicbug / about 12 years ago / 10

    Siri.. why do I have 300 channels and nothing to watch?

  • So with this, a bit more hacking, and the Beer Launching Fridge, I have seen my future. "Siri, beer me"!

    • JohnD. / about 12 years ago / 2

      Now all you need to do is program Siri to bring you a sandwich and soon the divorce rate will go up! Great project man.

  • sephers / about 12 years ago / 5

    Why is siri so angry? Give it time and all the iPhone 4Ss will turn red and tell us not to leave our homes whilst the rest gang up on Will Smith

  • mazen / about 12 years ago / 2

    Star Trek elevators anyone? I bet soon enough we will get into an elevator and just "tell" the elevator what "deck" we want to go to!

  • fun stuff.

  • JopieK / about 12 years ago / 1

    A nice tutorial would be really neat ;)

  • JopieK / about 12 years ago / 1

    believe me, this will become very practical, maybe switching channels isn't that neat, although, never need to find your remote, never need to wash your hands when cooking e.g. Steve Jobs also had this in mind I heard (I hope to get his book this weekend to check his idea's).

  • antbe / about 12 years ago / 1

    Die Antwoord!

  • This is definitely NSFW but really cracked me up. siri argument "Would you like to know about local florists?"

    On a more serious note. I sure don't get having a conversation about watching a channel. Pushing a button takes a second. Asking siri to change the channel just seems like a waste of time.

    • Ummmmmm, asking Siri to change the channel is FOR COOLNESS! It's not like a project has to be practical.

    • I can see practical uses for this. I recently severed a tendon in my hand (and yes it absolutely sucks!), and have have my fingers splinted for two months. Telling the TV what channel I want to watch would be great! More seriously, I lost my brother-in-law to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) a few years ago, and even after losing fine motor control, he had comprehensible speech for about a year after that. Would have been great for him too.

  • Ermm, 'salty' isn't quite what I would call the language XD. Siri is going to be the focus of MILLIONS of conversations. You've got to love it! The attitude just gives it that wow factor. Although, CNN probably won't feature it...

  • Author X / about 12 years ago / 1

    Awesome, I've been itching to put together a universal remote since getting a Kinect and getting used to navigating by voice. I'll more likely try to hook it up by USB, since I don't have an iPhone, but this is a handy starting point.

  • sgrace / about 12 years ago / 1

    Ladies & Gentlemen,

    If this video proves anything, it's how to not treat your significant other! You might be living in a cardboard box on Broadway or Colfax if you do.

  • I'm sorry, but if my IPhone talked to me that way, I'd send it to meet its maker.

    • MonkeyKnight / about 12 years ago * / 3

      I'd wash it's speaker out with soap.

      It worked for me when I was it's age.

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