* BUGFIX: The big bug was calling is_paired() during wake_word_in_audio(). When not paired, that call hit the server, taking about a second. Since it happened multiple times a second, the audio buffers got backed up hugely. This resulted in weird behavior later as the buffers get cleared out.
* Added mycroft.api.has_been_paired(), which just looks for the pairing key (it does not validate it is still active with the server, like is_paired())
* The enclosure now checks for internet connectivity and kicks off the wifisetup process, not the wifisetup client itself.
* During the "onboarding" process, the microphone is muted using the new "mycroft.mic.mute" message. After pairing completes, the "mycroft.mic.unmute" is expected to be sent from the pairing skill. Unmuting again after a re-pairing is harmless.
* mute_and_speak() is smart enough to not unmute itself when complete if muted before
* util.check_for_signal() now accepts -1 as the lifetime. This means it never times out.
* util.stop_speaking() is more intelligent about shutting down the spoken text (including text that has been split at periods) and visemes
* Added a mycroft.api.is_paired() method
* Added mycroft.util.is_speaking and mycroft.util.wait_while_speaking() methods
* RESET now waits for the spoken notice to complete
* Stopped the "Checking for updates" and "Skills updated" prompts (commented out for now, probably will eliminate)
* Wifi setup filters out hidden ("x00") networks
* Visemes should keep up better if they get behind (will skip)
* Mimic is now searched for on the users path
* Onboarding process:
- wifi setup starts automatically
- User is walked through the process
- wake word and button pressing are ignored
- At end, a short tutorial is given
The TTS audio is now cached. If the same TTS is requested again, the cached WAV and phoneme sequence is reused.
Major points:
* Created mycroft.util.get_cache_directory(). You can give this a domain, also. The mycroft.conf can define where this directory resides, so enclosures can have this reside on a ramdisk, for instance.
* Created mycroft.util.curate_cache(). This retains a percentage of the disk size free.
The 1980s birthed a new form of interaction between computers and users. For the first time computers became capable of understanding the most basic form of human communication - pointing and grunting. The mouse and the GUI revolutionized computing and made computers accessible to the masses.
We have now entered a third era. We are rapidly approaching a time when computer systems will understand human language and respond using the most natural form of human communication – speech.
This is an important development. Some might even call it revolutionary.
Despite its importance, however, the technologies that will underpin this new method of interaction are the property of major tech firms who don't necessarily have the public's best interests at heart.
Not anymore.
Meet Mycroft – the worlds first open source natural language platform. Mycroft understands human language and responds with speech. It is being designed to run on anything from a phone to an automobile and will change the way we interact with open source technologies in profound ways.
Our goal here at Mycroft is to improve this technology to the point that when you interact with the software it is impossible to tell if you are talking to a human or a machine.
This initial release of the Mycroft software represents a significant effort by the Mycroft community to give the open source world access to this important technology. We are all hoping that the software will be useful to the public and will help to usher in a new era of human machine interaction.
Our community welcomes everyone to use Mycroft, improve the software and contribute back to the project. With your help and support we can truly make Mycroft an AI for everyone.
Joshua W Montgomery – May 17, 2016
Matthew D. Scholefield
Åke Forslund
penrods
Jonathan D'Orleans
Arron Atchison
Ryan Sipes
Leo Arias