What kind of computer do I need to run the HAL software? What are the minimum requirements for the PC? Can I run it on my home PC or does HAL need to run on a separate PC? Does my computer have to stay on all the time? Do I need to have an Internet connection for HAL to work? Is HAL difficult to install? Can I load HAL on multiple computers? What can I control in my house? What other features does HAL offer? How does HAL control my lights and fans in the house? How do I get started? Can HAL talk to my existing light switches? Will I still be able to control my lights manually? Can HAL turn on my porch lights for me every night? Do you have to train your voice for HAL to understand you? How much does it cost? Where can I purchase the product? Are there Add-ons I can purchase for HAL? Do you offer technical support if I need help setting it up? How can I talk to HAL? Can I give HAL my own name? Can HAL be either a male or female? What other ways can I access my home with HAL? Is there a monthly fee for any of the services? What if I want to move HAL to another computer? Can I upgrade my copy of HAL? Q. What kind of computer do I need to run the HAL software? A. HAL runs on a standard PC running Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP Operating Systems. Q. What are the minimum requirements for the PC? A. We recommend running HAL on a 1 GHZ Processor and above, a minimum of 512MB of RAM and a 20 GB hard drive. You'll also need a CD ROM drive and a sound card with a microphone and speakers attached. Q. Can I run it on my home PC or does HAL need to run on a separate PC? A. You can run HAL on your existing computer as long as it meets the minimum requirements stated above. The HAL program will just run in the background. Q. Does my computer have to stay on all the time? A. For HAL to work properly, the PC would have to stay on all the time and cannot be put in a sleep mode. However, the monitor can be turned off or put into a screen saver mode. Q. Do I need to have an Internet connection for HAL to work? A. HAL does not need an Internet connection to work. However, with an Internet connection you can access HAL remotely via the HomeNet interface and have HAL download important information for you such as news, weather, sport scores or even stock quotes. HAL can obtain information using any ISP (Internet Service Provider), including dial-up, cable modem, DSL, etc. Q. Is HAL difficult to install? A. HAL is very simple to install and will take you through a guided installation wizard. You will simply answer the questions and HAL will take it from there. The whole process takes less than 15 minutes. Q. Can I load HAL on multiple computers? A. HAL only needs to be loaded on a single PC. Your copy of HAL comes with a Product Key that unlocks the software. The Product Key can only be used once and must be registered on the HAL website (http://www.automatedliving.com) Q. What can I control in my house? A. HAL gives you the ability to control, schedule and communicate with many devices and appliances in your home. This would include lighting, ceiling fans, small appliances, thermostats, audio/video equipment and even your security system. Q. What other features does HAL offer? A. HAL can answer your phones for you, keep a list of groceries you need to buy, remind you of important events or appointments and even access the Internet to get useful information like weather, stocks, news, sports, TV listings and even your email. Q. How does HAL control my lights and fans in the house? A. Included with the HAL software is an interface cable/module that connects your PC to your house wiring. Just plug the cable into your PC and the module into the nearest outlet. This now allows HAL to send and receive communication over your existing power line in the house. Q. How do I get started? A. Once you purchase the software, you just plug in the hardware to your PC, put in the CD and HAL will start the installation. It comes with a module to start controlling a lamp in your home. Just plug the lamp into the module. There are two dial settings on the lamp module. Simply select a letter (or House Code) on one dial and a number (or Unit Code) on the other dial. This becomes the address for that lamp. Then when HAL asks you what the address is for the lamp you want to control, simply set the same House Code and Unit Code on the screen. Q. Can HAL talk to my existing light switches? A. HAL can only communicate with smart or intelligent light switches using your existing power line in the house. Q. Will I still be able to control my lights manually? A. Yes. HAL will never take total control of anything in your house. Everything you could do manually before you can still do. HAL just gives you another way to control and schedule these devices. Q. HAL turn on my porch lights for me every night? A. Absolutely! You can set up many schedules within HAL. Not only will it turn on your porch lights, but HAL can turn them on at sunset and know that sunset changes every day. You'll never have to come home to a dark house again! Q. Do you have to train your voice for HAL to understand you? A. That's really the wonderful thing about HAL, there is NO voice training whatsoever. HAL is completely voice independent and will listen to you even when you have a cold. Q. How much does it cost? A. Depending on the version of the software (HALbasic, HALdeluxe or HAL2000) the price ranges from $99.00 to $399.00. Q. Where can I purchase the product? A. You can order it directly from our website at http://www.automatedliving.com or call 817-557-9400 Q. Are there Add-ons I can purchase for HAL? A. Yes, you can purchase additional products for any version of HAL. We offer the DMC (Digital Music Center) for only $49.00 and our HALvoices (a more human sounding interface than what comes with the original product) for only $49.00. Q. Do you offer technical support if I need help setting it up? A. If you have any questions during the installation you can contact our technical support. They can be contacted by email (support@automatedliving.com), fax (301.498.4619) or by phone 301-498-7700 Q. How can I talk to HAL? A. You can talk to HAL through two different methods. The first being through the microphone connected to your computer sound card. To do this you will first speak a word or phrase to get HAL's attention. HAL will respond back, indicating HAL is ready for your command, and away you go. When you're done talking to HAL, simply say, "Goodbye, that's all or Thank you", to end your conversation. The other method is through your existing telephones. By using the HAL Voice Modem you can set your phones up to talk to HAL. Just lift the handset, when you hear the dial tone, just push the # key, the dial tone goes away and HAL says, "How may I help you?" When you're done, simply hang up. Q. Can I give HAL my own name? A. Yes, you can name HAL whatever name you would like. Q. Can HAL be either a male or female? A. HAL responds in a male or female voice. Q. What other ways can I access my home with HAL? A. You can access your home by voice or over the Internet. Q. Is there a monthly fee for any of the services? A. There are no additional monthly fees to use HAL. Q. What if I want to move HAL to another computer? A. Simply unregister your copy of HAL with the assistance of our technical support and you can now load it up and register it on a different PC. Q. Can I upgrade my copy of HAL? A. As new versions of the software become available you will be able to upgrade your copy by downloading the new version from our website.