Turn on or off a device connected to appliance module (immediately or at time specified)

Turn On, Turn off or Dim lamp connected to lamp module or wall switch module (immediately or at time specified) (dim in 5% increments from 15% to 100% brightness) 

Open or close drapes that have drapery operator attached (either immediately, at a preset time, or at sunrise/sunset)

Open or close blinds that have blind operator attached (either immediately, at a preset time, or at sunrise/sunset)

Open or close sliding patio door that has operator attached.

 Lock or unlock conventional hinged door.

 Open or close conventional hinged door.

Turn on or off, change channels and volume on television and VCR.

Manage temperature in house by controlling thermostat and additional dampers in ductwork if needed.

Monitor motion and movement in house and outside house.  Can turn on or off devices by detected motion or lack thereof.

Answer telephone and act as answering machine, also provides remote control from any telephone of Ralph functions.

Call specific people when certain conditions occur.  Supports up to 128 different conditions to call on and each can call different list of numbers and leave different message, each can also be required to confirm by pressing certain button on their phone to stop continuous calling of list.  Up to 6 numbers can be on each list.

 Act as alarm clock and can provide reminders throughout day of certain things to do.

Remind to take medications and require confirmation they have done it.  This confirmation can be verbal, motion to specific room, pushing a button etc.  if no confirmation, the system can call a list to notify them.  Also can track medication inventory and alert when refills should be ordered.

Shopping list, can add items at any time to list, then print list when going to store.

Retrieve weather and news headlines through internet and read them on command, at set times, when they get up, etc.

Monitor through internet for severe weather and alert occupants of home to weather warnings.

Retrieve and maintain up-to-date channel listing and program summaries through internet and watch for certain shows or types of shows to be on.  Occupant can ask “What’s on KMOS at 6 pm”, or “what’s on channel 6 now”, or “what science fiction shows or movies are on tonight”.  Can also alert occupants when a specific show, movie, movie type or actor is going to be on.  After an alert or response from Ralph, occupant can say “Record that” and Ralph will start the VCR recording at proper time on proper channel (occupant must have tape in VCR or it won’t work (yet))

By replacing doorbell, occupant can answer doorbell by answering their phone, phone rings with special ring.  If they want to let a person in they can press a certain button on phone and door will either unlock or open (depending on type of door and operator)

Operate an attached recirulator pump to have hot water available immediately at fixtures a few minutes before occupant is awakened.

Act as security system for home, if intrusion is detected, can call list of people, turn on all lights, sound siren, and if optional cameras are used, can record video of incident, can even email that video to other parties.

Utilize voice systems for dictation, can type create emails just by dictating them to Ralph.  Can also read emails to occupants.

Capable of working with up to 8 different occupants.  Each occupant must go through voice training, which takes 30-60 minutes during which they read to Ralph simple stories he displays on his screen.  Stories include portions of the wizard of oz,  Aesop’s Fables, War of the Worlds, and several others.  More training will provide better recognition of voice, system also continually improves recognition with use, in other words every time a specific person talks to Ralph, it learns their voice and pronunciation of words better, this way if a persons speech changes over time, Ralph will automatically adapt to it.

System is capable of utilizing English, Spanish, Italian and French at present time.  Although it knows the basic languages, all commands must still be in English grammar format.

Ralph has a personality and “back story” to make it seem more like a human assistant than a computer, occupant can ask Ralph questions and he will respond,  many times responses will be another question but will lead to a continual conversation.  Example of back story is Ralph is a male, approximately 35 years old in human years, he was born on May 10, 2001, his creator is Greg Corpier, Ralph likes spaghetti, his favorite past time is making his fan make grinding noises, he has a girlfriend named Alice and best friends named Robby and Krypton (of course they are all robots), his favorite football team is the Kansas City Chiefs, his favorite baseball team is Kansas City Royals, favorite TV show is Enterprise, Favorite book is I Robot by Isaac Asimov…and please don’t ask him to sing, he will try!