Sony ERF210AW04 User Manual

AIBO Messenger

User’s Guide

ERF-210AW04

4-655-770-12 (1)

English

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Notice to Users

©2001 Sony Corporation All rights reserved. This manual and the software described herein, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, translated or reduced to any machine-readable form without prior written approval.

EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THE END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT, SONY CORPORATION PROVIDES THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE AND THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTY AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,

NONINFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH REGARD TO THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR SUCH OTHER INFORMATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL SONY CORPORATION BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER

BASED ON TORT, CONTRACT, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS MANUAL, THE SOFTWARE, OR OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THE USE THEREOF. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS.

Sony Corporation reserves the right to make any modification to this manual or the information contained herein at any time without notice.

This product contains software owned by Sony Corporation and licensed from third parties. Use of such software is subject to the terms and conditions of license agreements enclosed with this product. Software specifications are subject to change without notice and may not necessarily be identical to current retail versions.

Before using this software, please read the accompanying End-User License Agreement which governs use of this software.

Customer Support

How to contact the AIBO Customer Link.

In the United States and Canada

1-800-427-2988 Email address: aibosupport@info.sel.sony.com

In Australia

Call +1300-36-2426 (toll free within Australia) E-mail address: cicci@ap.sony.com

In Europe

English line: +44 (0)-20-7365-2937 German line: +49 (0)-69-9508-6309 French line: +33 (0)-1-5569-5117 Email address: aibo@sonystyle-europe.com

1En3

“OPEN-R” is the standard interface for the entertainment robot system that Sony is actively promoting. This interface expands the capability of the entertainment robot through a flexible combination of hardware and interchangeable software to suit various applications. “AIBO” ERS-210 and “AIBO Messenger” ERF-210AW04 conform to OPEN-R version 1.1 (software specifications).

“AIBO”, the AIBO logo trademarks of Sony Corporation. “Memory Stick,” “ Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Eudora is a registered trademark of Board of Trustees, Illinois University and is licensed to Qualcomm Corporation in the United States. All other system names and product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. In this manual, the “™” and “®” marks have been omitted.

Other information about AIBO is available on the Internet at the following site: http://www.aibo.com/

, “OPEN-R” and the OPEN-R logo are registered

” and “ ” are trademarks of Sony

Table of contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6

Starting AIBO Messenger ......................................................................................... 7

Quitting AIBO Messenger......................................................................................... 9

AIBO’s modes and how to resume normal operation ............................................. 10

Having AIBO read an E-mail message aloud ......................................................... 12

Checking if you get a new E-mail message ..............................................................13

Having AIBO read aloud an E-mail message ...........................................................15

Stopping AIBO from reading a mail message or having AIBO read it again ...........17

Having AIBO read a Web page aloud ..................................................................... 18

Stopping AIBO from reading a Web page or having AIBO read it again .................19

Using the clock function ......................................................................................... 20

Checking the current time ......................................................................................... 20

Using the reminder function ..................................................................................... 21

Setting up AIBO Messenger.................................................................................... 22

Automatically checking for new mails ..................................................................... 23

Selecting AIBO’s Voice.............................................................................................24

Using the user dictionary .......................................................................................... 25

Selecting a Web page for AIBO to read ....................................................................30

Setting the reminder .................................................................................................. 31

Setting the AIBO IP address......................................................................................31

List of commands .................................................................................................... 32

List of key words..................................................................................................... 34

List of pronunciation symbols (List of phonemes) ................................................. 36

Notes on use ............................................................................................................ 38

Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................... 40

For more information about “AIBO” ERS-210 (names of parts, settings, “Memory Stick” installation, safety precautions, etc.), refer to the “AIBO” ERS-210 Operating Instructions.

Introduction

Have you finished installing AIBO Messenger ERF-210AW04 (hereafter referred to as AIBO Messenger)? If not, refer to the supplied Setup Guide to install AIBO Messenger and set up a wireless LAN.

Now, let’s start up AIBO Messenger and have AIBO read aloud an E-mail or Web page.

Starting AIBO Messenger

Turn on your personal computer (PC) and AIBO, and then start up AIBO Messenger.

Notes

• AIBO moves by itself in joyful exuberance even when it does not read an E-mail or Web page once you start up AIBO Messenger. Do not place AIBO on a place where it may fall off such as a desktop.

• If you start up AIBO Messenger when you are already on the Internet via a modem, AIBO Messenger may automatically dial up to connect to the Internet depending on your environment to check if your PC is already connected to the Internet.

Turn on your PC.

Turn on your PC and start Windows.

Start up AIBO.

Insert the “Memory Stick” into AIBO and start it up.

1 Insert the AIBO Messenger “Memory Stick” into AIBO.

For details, refer to the “AIBO” ERS-210 Operating Instructions.

2 Press the pause button on AIBO to start up AIBO.

AIBO Messenger starts up and it waits for a new E-mail message.

When AIBO Messenger waits for a new E-mail message (E-mail waiting mode)

After you start up AIBO Messenger, AIBO waits for a new E-mail message, that is, it enters E-mail waiting mode. After AIBO finishes reading a received E-mail aloud or if you do not give any instruction to AIBO for one minute, AIBO waits for a new E-mail or your command.

Note

AIBO Messenger functions even when AIBO is mounted on the Energy Station (optional). In this case, AIBO moves its head and/or tail only.

Start up AIBO Messenger.

Click the Start button on the task bar, and click Program, AIBO Messenger, and AIBO Messenger in this order. The Owner Authentication dialog box appears on the screen. (If you do not set up any user ID and password during set-up of AIBO Messenger, this Owner Authentication dialog box will not appear.)

Type the user ID and password you entered to set up the wireless LAN

AIBO waits for a new E-mail message.

(see page 15, Setup Guide), and then click OK.

If you select the Save password check box, you need not type the user ID and password the next time. The AIBO Messenger title screen appears, and the AIBO Messenger icon appears in the task tray .

AIBO Messenger icon

During communication: yellow Idle: white

Quitting AIBO Messenger

Click the AIBO Messenger icon in the task tray with the right button, and select Exit from the menu.

Press the pause button on AIBO’s chest to pause AIBO, and then remove the “Memory Stick” from AIBO.

For details on removing the “Memory Stick”, refer to the “AIBO” ERS-210 Operating Instructions.

AIBO’s modes and how to resume normal operation

If an object gets caught in AIBO’s joint or AIBO is picked up and interrupted during AIBO Messenger operation, follow the procedure below to restore AIBO to “E-mail waiting mode”.

Press the chin sensor and back sensor at the same time for 3 seconds.

Something gets caught in its leg or neck joints.

AIBO is picked up.

Note

AIBO does not read an E-mail message aloud or notify you of the current time when it is being charged, i.e. it is connected to the AC adapter.

AIBO Messenger

E-mail waiting mode

AIBO is waiting for a new E-mail message. It checks to see if you get a new E-mail message at regular intervals you set in advance. In this mode, you can give the following instructions to AIBO:

• Check if you get a new E-mail message.

“Check mail”

• Read the received E-mail message aloud.

“Read my mail”

• Read a Web page.

“Read page number xx”

• Check the current time.

“What time is it now?”

To charge the battery pack

Press the pause button on AIBO’s chest to pause AIBO.

Charge the battery with the AC adapter supplied with AIBO or with an Energy Station (optional). For details, refer to the Operating Instructions for “AIBO” ERS-210 and/or the Energy Station.

AIBO finishes walking.

Press the head sensor for 3 seconds.

Walking condition

AIBO walks.

Jam condition

Joints loosen up.

Flashes.

If any object jams up AIBO’s neck or hip joint, AIBO loosens up all of its joints. This is to prevent accidental injury in case you catch your finger in one of its joint. In this condition, AIBO’s mode indicator flashes. To return AIBO to normal, press the head sensor for 3 seconds or more.

Put AIBO down on the floor or press its head sensor for 3 seconds.

Mount AIBO on the Energy Station.

Picked-up condition

Even when AIBO is picked up, it reads an E-mail message or Web page aloud or notifies you the current time. However, only its head or tail moves.

Dismount AIBO from the Energy Station.

Station mode

Even when AIBO is mounted on an Energy Station, it can read an E-mail message aloud or notify you of the current time. However, only its head or tail moves.

Flashes.

When you pick up AIBO, AIBO enters a mode that makes it easier for you to hold AIBO and flashes its mode indicator. To return AIBO to normal, put AIBO down on the floor. If AIBO does not return to normal, press its head sensor for 3 seconds or more.

When an Energy Station (optional) is used

Having AIBO read an E-mail message aloud

To have AIBO read an E-mail message aloud, give an instruction to AIBO to do so with your voice or pressing its sensor. Several commands are provided to indicate one instruction. Here a few commands are described as an example. For details on commands, see “List of commands” (page 32).

E-mail waiting mode

AIBO waits for a new E-mail message. It checks whether you get a new E-mail message at intervals you set in advance.

When you say “check mail” or

“Read my mail” and there is

Reading-E-mail command waiting mode

AIBO waits for your instruction to read an E-mail message.

“Next mail” “Previous mail”

Reading an E-mail message

aloud

new mail.

“Read my mail”

You have got xx new mails.

There is no new mail.

You have got a mail from xx titled xx.

Hello, let’s have lunch tomorrow at the restaurant I found a few days ago…

Lies down.

“Finish reading”

You do not give any instruction to AIBO for one minute.

Sits down.

AIBO finished reading an E-mail message or stopped reading it.

Sits down.

Checking if you get a new E-mail message

Check mail.

Automatically checking an E-mail message

AIBO automatically checks whether a new E-mail has arrived or not at intervals you set in advance. For details on setting the interval, see “Setting up AIBO Messenger” (page 22).

Note

If you select Eudora 4.3 as the default E-mail application, this automatic mail check function will not notify you of arrival of a new mail message when it is executed for the first time after its arrival. It notifies you of the mail arrival when executed the next time.

Checking a new E-mail message when you like

You can check to see if a new E-mail message has arrived by instructing AIBO when you like. Say “Check mail” to AIBO when it is on E-mail waiting mode, or press its head sensor strongly in a moment.

E-mail waiting mode

Note

If you select Eudora 4.3 as the default E-mail application, you cannot use this function: checking a new E-mail message when you like. Even though you say, “Check mail” to AIBO, it says, “This operation is not allowed with the e-mail software that is set up.”

If you get a new E-mail message

You have got xx new mails

Read my mail.

AIBO notifies you of new mail message reception as follows:

“You have got xx new mails.” (when the automatic checking function is executed) “There are xx new mails.” (when you instructed AIBO to check an E-mail

message)

To have AIBO read a new E-mail message after that, say “Read my mail” to AIBO, or press its head sensor strongly in a moment. AIBO will read aloud the “sender”, “title” and “message”.

To stop AIBO from reading messages before it finishes reading them, press its back sensor.

Stop reading a message.

If you get no new E-mail message

AIBO notifies you that there is no mail message by saying “There is no new mail.” Note that AIBO says nothing when you use the automatic mail check

function.

Having AIBO read aloud an E-mail message

You have got a mail from xx titled xx.

Read my mail.

Have AIBO read aloud an E-mail message in the electronic in-tray.

Say, “Read my mail” to AIBO, which is in E-mail waiting mode, or move AIBO to and fro twice while pressing its head sensor gently.

AIBO reads aloud the “sender” and “title” of the latest mail message in the in-tray, and then waits for your instruction to read mail (that is, sits down). If there is no mail message on the in-tray, AIBO says “There is no mail in the

in-tray.”

Give either of the following instructions to AIBO:

You can give any number of commands to AIBO continuously.

“Read my mail” (or press the AIBO’s head sensor strongly in a moment.)

AIBO will read aloud the message text itself of the current E-mail.

“Previous mail” (or press the AIBO’s chin sensor for 3 seconds or more.)

AIBO will read the sender and title of the E-mail message received immediately before the current mail. To have AIBO read the message itself aloud, say “Read my mail” to AIBO or press the AIBO’s head sensor strongly in a moment. If there is no mail before the current mail, AIBO says, “The specified message does

not exist.”

“Next mail” (or press the AIBO’s back sensor for 3 seconds or more.)

AIBO will read the sender and title of the E-mail message received immediately after the current mail. To have AIBO read the message itself aloud, say “Read my mail” to AIBO or press the AIBO’s head sensor strongly in a moment. If there is no mail after the current mail, AIBO says, “The specified message does

not exist.”

“Finish reading” (move AIBO to and fro twice while pressing its head sensor

gently.) AIBO re-enters E-mail waiting mode (that is, lies down.)

Notes

• While AIBO is reading a message, it will not respond to any instruction you give to

AIBO. Stop AIBO from reading the message by pressing its back sensor, or wait for AIBO to finish reading the message.

• If you give no instruction to AIBO for one minute after it finishes reading a message, it

enters E-mail waiting mode (that is, lies down.)

When an E-mail message contains a phrase(s) or sentence(s) quoted from another E-mail message

AIBO changes its face direction or voice to indicate that it is reading a quotation now. For details, see “Setting up AIBO Messenger” (page 22).

When an E-mail message contains the specific key word(s)

AIBO makes a motion corresponding to the key word contained. For details on key words, see “List of key words” (page 34).

Stopping AIBO from reading a mail message or having AIBO read it again

Use AIBO’s sensors to stop it from reading a message or have AIBO read it again.

To have AIBO re-read a message from the beginning

Press its head sensor strongly for a moment while it is reading a message.

AIBO re-reads the message it is reading from the beginning.

To stop AIBO from reading a message

Press its back sensor while it is reading a message.

AIBO re-enters Reading-E-mail command waiting mode.

Having AIBO read a Web page aloud

Read page number 2.

AIBO can read aloud text displayed on a Web page whose URL is registered in advance. Up to five Web pages can be registered. For details on how to register a Web page, see “Setting up AIBO Messenger” (page 22).

Say “Read page number xx” to AIBO while in E-mail waiting mode.

AIBO will read aloud the Web page whose number is specified.

Notes

• AIBO cannot read aloud a framed Web page. AIBO says, “The specified URL page

uses framesets and cannot be read.”

• While AIBO is reading a Web page, it cannot respond to any instruction you give to

AIBO. Stop AIBO from reading the web page by pressing its back sensor or wait for AIBO to finish reading the Web page.

Stopping AIBO from reading a Web page or having AIBO read it again

Use AIBO’s sensors to stop it from reading a Web page or have AIBO read it again.

To have AIBO re-read a Web page from the beginning.

Press its head sensor strongly for a moment while it is reading a Web page.

AIBO re-reads the Web page it is reading from the beginning.

To stop AIBO from reading a Web page

Press its back sensor while it is reading a Web page.

AIBO re-enters E-mail waiting mode.

Using the clock function

AIBO lets you know the current time. AIBO can say the specified message at a time you set also.

Note

Before using this function, be sure to set the clock of your PC correctly.

Checking the current time

AIBO notifies you of the current time.

Say, “What time is it now?” to AIBO, who is in E-mail waiting mode.

AIBO says, “The time is xx.”

What time is it now?

The time is 6:24.

Using the reminder function

AIBO will read aloud the specified comment at a time you set. For how to specify a comment AIBO is to read aloud, see “Setting up AIBO Messenger” (page 22).

It’s time to get up.

If you do not specify any comment, AIBO says, “It is the time you requested.”

Notes

• If AIBO or AIBO Messenger does not start up at a time you set yet, AIBO cannot notify

you of the current time.

• If AIBO happens to read an E-mail message or Web page at a time you specified, it will

notify you of the time by saying “XX minutes have passed” after it finishes reading the current message or page.

Setting up AIBO Messenger

You can set the following six items to operate AIBO Messenger as you like:

• Automatic new E-mail check (see page 23)

• Selecting AIBO’s voice to read a message or Web page (see page 24)

• User dictionary (see page 25)

• Web page to be read aloud (see page 30)

• Reminder (see page 31)

• AIBO IP address (see page 31)

Note

While AIBO is reading an E-mail message or Web page, you cannot make any setting adjustments above.

To make the settings above, open the Setup dialog box of AIBO Messenger.

Opening the Setup dialog box

Double-click the AIBO Messenger icon in the desktop task tray.

The Setup dialog box appears on the screen.

Note

If the AIBO Messenger icon is not displayed in the task tray, see page 7 to start up AIBO Messenger.

Automatically checking for new mails

Make settings on the Mail tab of the Setup dialog box.

A B

Put a check mark in A, and type the time in B. AIBO Messenger automatically checks to see if a new E-mail message has arrived at the intervals you typed here. If you do not want to check a new E-mail message automatically, uncheck A.

Selecting AIBO’s Voice

AIBO changes its voice between “Voice 1” and “Voice 2”: it uses “Voice 1” to read E-mail messages (excluding a phrase or sentence quoted from another mail message) and Web pages while it uses “Voice 2” to read a quoted phrase or sentence. Note that AIBO switches its voice also between these two types of voices when the number of marks indicating a quoted phrase/sentence changes. Open the Voice tab from the Setup dialog box to select a voice used for “Voice 1” or “Voice 2”.

Note

AIBO may not change its voice to read a quotation depending on the mail format.

Select the voice type, Voice 1 or Voice 2.

Click the Setting button on the Voice tab.

The Voice Settings dialog box appears on the screen.

Select the voice type from the Voice selection dropdown box, and adjust it with the slider if necessary.

When you click the Preview Voice button, the test sentence is played back in the voice you set here.

Using the user dictionary

Use the Voice tab of the Setup dialog box to operate the user dictionary. The user dictionary allows you to register pronunciation symbols for a certain word contained in an E-mail message or Web page to have AIBO read the word with pronunciation other than its original one or to prevent AIBO from pronouncing it incorrectly.

Registering a word to the user dictionary

Click the User Dictionary button on the V oice tab.

The New Word dialog box appears on the screen.

Enter the spelling and pronunciation* of a word to the Word and Pronunciaton boxes, and then click the Save button.

A combination of the entered spelling and pronunciation is registered to the user dictionary. Note that a word you register in this way is handled as a proper noun. To change the part of speech, see “Editing the user dictionary.”

Enter the pronunciation symbol(s) of a word here.

Enter the spelling here.

* See page 36 for how to enter a pronunciation symbol.

Editing the user dictionary

A new word can be added to the dictionary, or the registered word can be changed or deleted from the user dictionary.

Click the User Dictionary button on the V oice tab.

The New Word dialog box appears on the screen.

Click the Tool button.

The User Word Dictionary Tool dialog box appears on the screen.

Select the desired word from the displayed list, and then click the Add, Change or Delete button according to your operation.

Delete button

t The selected word is deleted from the

user dictionary.

Add button

t The Add Word dialog box appears on the

screen. Enter the spelling and pronunciation*, and then click the OK button.

Enter the pronunciation symbol(s) of the selected word here.

* See page 36 for how to enter a pronunciation symbol.

Enter the spelling here.

Change button

t The Change Word dialog box appears on

the screen. Enter each item, and then click OK.

Selecting a Web page for AIBO to read

Specify a Web page address on the Web tab of the Setup dialog box. You can register up to 5 URLs (addresses) of Web pages you want AIBO to read aloud. We recommend that you display a Web page with the browser, then copy and paste its URL to register it.

Note

AIBO cannot read a Web page that uses framesets. Even though you try to have AIBO read it, AIBO says, “The specified URL page uses framesets and cannot be read”.

+ 98 hidden pages