(Photo by Darren Brown, OBJ)

TECH TOYS

I must admit, I'd initially hoped for something out of I, Robot.

And though my science fiction-fuelled imagination wasn't immediately piqued by Avoca Semiconductor's flagship product, the VIP Music Edition, the Ottawa-based company's offering certainly provides enough satisfaction to rank as one of the area's coolest tech gadgets in production.

The VIP, which plugs into existing stereo systems, offers a monolithic hard drive – to store your digital music library or CD collection, if you still have one – and features voice-activated stereo controls, headmanned by a remote control-type contraption aptly named the VIP Music Companion (or, cutely, 'MC' for short).

And while at first I couldn't shake the suspicion that the whole thing wan't going to work, Peter Fillmore, the company's VP of marketing and sales, dispelled any such notions after bringing a demo of the system to the OBJ's offices last week.

As Mr. Fillmore explained, the VIP system runs on the so-called Say it-Play-It software – allowing users to control their entertainment systems using demanding terms like "play artist," "display by album," "play genre," "cue (track, artist or album)," and many other simple, intuitive voice commands.

Avoca VIP systems also work in lighting, speaker and security systems, and are voice-independent so anyone speaking English in all but the most substantial accents can, theoretically, use the product.

Mr. Fillmore handed me the remote control, quickly briefed me on the gadget's recognized commands, and set me to work.

"Play a song," he said.

I stared at the tiny, grey remote, adorned with a touchpad screen. A playlist lined its display area, and I commanded the thing to play first track I saw.

"OK," I said, then, pressing the mic button on the remote unit, added: "Play 'Muskrat Love.'"

To my delight, the VIP system responded promptly and with little fanfare; the vintage Willis Allan Ramsay track rumbled through speakers Mr. Fillmore had provided.

"Cue Fleetwood Mac," I said, growing more confident. The VIP did as it was told, immediately displaying a rich playlist of Mac songs on offer in Mr. Fillmore's collection.

I was hooked. Indeed, VIP Music Edition is a must for any audiophile interested in taking their entertainment systems to the next level, be they rack-mounted component stereos or bookshelf items.

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GO-GO GADGET

What: A voice-activated digital music library called the VIP Music Edition – enabled through a small, voice-activated and remote-control device called the 'music companion' – suited for accenting your existing entertainment system

Who: Produced by local semiconductor company Avoca, a Kanata-based firm that markets voice control and search technology (VCST) supporting voice-enabled user interfaces in electronics.

Where: Sold locally at Signature Audio Visual (www.sigav.com), 126 Iber Rd. in Stittsville.

Cost: $3,998 (with 160-gigabyte storage capability).

Pros:

• Stores, as you play them, your entire CD collection on a single digital music library hard disk.

• Allows flexibility in where and how you control music play – users can command entertainment systems from the comfort of their chaise longue.

• Voice activation features allow customizable nicknames, giving users the option of hollering "cue my favourite," or "play 'The Boss.'"

Cons:

• Remote control doesn't allow for a truly 'hands-free' experience.

• At a somewhat high retail cost, VIP only provides the voice-enabling and music storage hardware – all other components, like speakers, amps and receivers, must be bought separately.