Model Train Journal

During this afternoon's TrainWorld virtual roundtable event, Lionel's president, Howard Hitchcock, announced Lionel Voice Control (LVC), which will enable voice control of trains via Lionel's LionChief App.

The 5.0 update to Bluetooth makes this possible.

A small icon will be added to the LionChief App that will enable voice control of throttle, direction, volume, dialogue, couplers, bell/horn/whistle, smoke, sequences, and time controls (what will that be, I wonder?).

Howard said that LVC will be officially introduced in Lionel's first 2021 catalog.

Oh, LVC will be backward compatible with all Lionel engines controllable by Bluetooth.

Sounds like another fun—and free—option for running our trains. Kids, too, may get into it, not to mention folks (older or disabled) who have difficulty manipulating remotes, touchscreens, or even transformers.

I missed that part. Will try to do a replay. Thanks for the heads up.

That feels like tech for the sake of tech, IMHO, or am I not understanding?

healey36 wrote:That feels like tech for the sake of tech, IMHO, or am I not understanding?

Can't wait to see how that works at a train show with lots of kids yelling, etc.

This might be a little TMI. I had an alarm clock that you could set by voice. Tell the clock 6:30 an and it was set. One night i was snoring. That damn clock would say : Alarm set for 2:30 am. I'd wake up WTF. Fall back asleep snore and hear "alarm set 1:45 am" This went on for a few times . Then i realized what it was. I no longer have that clock.

healey36 wrote:That feels like tech for the sake of tech, IMHO, or am I not understanding?

I agree. What's next, telekinesis?

George

Next Alexa will be running your trains, lol (why am I laughing?)

A re-issue of the 465 dispatch station using this technology where you speak into the microphone would be cool.

healey36 wrote:Next Alexa will be running your trains, lol (why am I laughing?)

That is probably the basis for the Lionel voice control.
I realize that with all of the command control stuff one can program everything that a train would do for some time running on a layout.
I guess if you are a teckie the programming is most of the fun. But for an old guy like me of the fun is in actually running the trains.

rogruth wrote:

healey36 wrote:Next Alexa will be running your trains, lol (why am I laughing?)

That is probably the basis for the Lionel voice control.
I realize that with all of the command control stuff one can program everything that a train would do for some time running on a layout.
I guess if you are a teckie the programming is most of the fun. But for an old guy like me of the fun is in actually running the trains.

Roger,

Maybe I would qualify as a "techie", but I can tell you that running trains using a smart phone doesn't hold any allure for me. I like my CAB-1 remote because it gives me tactile control and feedback. I've no desire whatsoever to put Alexa or any of these "voice-command / Big Brother listening" devices in my home.

George

I think the main attraction would be for small children and disabled folks who do not have good fine touch control. Small children are easily entertained . In any case, I don't think Lionel will need to spend much money implementing this as I'm sure off the shelf hardware and firmware/software are involved, as some have suggested.