Draft:Mastervoice Butler in a Box

Mastervoice Butler in a Box was an early home automation device developed in the 1980s by magician and entrepreneur Gus Searcy. Marketed as a pioneering artificial intelligence device, it aimed to control home environments using voice commands without the need for modern connectivity such as WiFi or Bluetooth.

Structure

The device was approximately the size of a modern PlayStation 4 and included various components such as an "appliance module", a lamp minder, a training cassette, and a standard RJ-45 phone jack and cord. It operated on a microprocessor that sent signals through the home's electrical wiring to control connected modules.

Operation

Butler in a Box used carrier current and the X10 protocol to communicate across a home's electrical wiring. Users plugged appliances into modules that decoded signals from the Butler. Voice commands were used to operate these appliances, requiring users to train the device with their voices using the provided cassette tape.

Inventor

Gus Searcy, the inventor of the Butler in a Box, had a multifaceted background. Known as a professional magician, his narrative includes ventures such as owning a 7-11 franchise at the age of 21. These diverse experiences reflect a life filled with varied interests and pursuits, contributing to his unconventional approach to both marketing and the functional design of his inventions. The certainty and details of his background remain ambiguous, adding a layer of intrigue to his character and creations.

Guide

The owner's guide was a complex 134-page manual that covered setup and programming, often critiqued for its complexity and poor user experience. Users had to navigate an arcane system of voice training and command entry to use the device effectively.

Disadvantages

Key disadvantages included its reliance on dated technology, the complex setup process, high energy consumption, and the total loss of programmed information if power was lost for more than a few hours without proper backup. The object has also been the subject of reverse engineering several times since to set it it is necessary to have a non-resettable 4-character alphanumeric combination available which was printed on the guide.

Sales and Market

Initially targeted at a price point of around $300 in 1983, the cost ballooned to $1,495 by 1987 and even higher in subsequent years. The Butler in a Box faced limited commercial success, partly due to its high cost and operational complexities. Its market presence dwindled as newer technologies and competitors emerged.

Innovation

Despite its shortcomings, the Butler in a Box was a forerunner in voice-controlled home automation, introducing many ideas that would become standard in later technologies like smart homes and virtual assistants.

History

The Butler in a Box was introduced during a time when voice recognition technology was in its infancy. It reflected the ambitious vision of home automation that was far ahead of its time but lacked the technological support to make it a sustainable product. The device is now remembered more for its visionary concept than for its practical application.