An idea...

[mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Mike LaMorte)]

Okay, those wunderkind Apple programmers out there, this is for you:

I have a gizmo called a Covox VoiceMaster for my //c+. (Got it MANY moons
ago.) It came with some cool software that allowed you to record and edit
voices and sounds, as well as do some simple voice-command operations in
basic. The VoiceMaster was a small box that plugged into the
joystick/mouse port, and it came with a microphone/speaker headset that
plugged into the box. It was a pretty simple device that worked pretty
well and created small files. We're not talking 16-bit CD-quality stereo
or anything, but it was about as good as one of those new digital
answering machines. So here's the idea:

Anyone with good A2 programming skills could probably modify the binary
program files for the VoiceMaster, right? The VoiceMaster box is nothing
more than a digitizer, right? A voice-compatable modem has built-in
digitizing circuts, right? So why not write some code and modify the
VoiceMaster software a bit, and come up with a voicemail application for
the Apple II? Leaving an Apple II running all day (monitor off) would
consume a LOT less power than a Mac or PC. (I know my Mac draws more power
than my II for a fact. Look at my electric bill!) AND a II will
automatically reboot if the power goes out, unlike a Mac that you have to
turn back on. 

I think it'd be pretty simple: just use VoiceMaster to record a generic
outgoing announcement and all the numbers. When the phone rings, the modem
picks up. Instead of sending the outgoing message to the speaker, we
re-direct it to the modem, which would play it over the phone line.
generate a beep, and instead of the VoiceMaster code looking to the game
port for the recording, it'd go to the modem port. You could even put in
a routine that monitors sound level so the computer would know when to
disconnect the call and save the message. Since not everyone has
VoiceMaster, we can include two pre-recorded outgoing messages. All you do
is type in the phone number and  it would place it in the message. (i.e.
"You have reached <pause> five five five, one two, one two. No one is
available to take your call, but if you leave your name, number, and brief
message, your call we be returned as soon as possible. Thank you.)

It would be realtively simple to incorporate time-date stamping (provided
you have a ProDOS-compatable clock, of course), pager-call, and
message-forwarding, too. 

If anyone thinks they can do this, drop me an e-mail and we can discuss it
some more. I think it'd be a really great thing to put up on grind or caltech!


-- 
Mike LaMorte <mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
CEO, President, Designer
Aurora Concepts Inc.
Design & Consulting