Author Topic: 5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible  (Read 76096 times)

The Tinman

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #15 on: December 13, 2003, 10:02:57 pm »
Yes the hal program drives the figure perfectly, if you get a short answer the head will move just slightly, and the lip sinc is perfect, a longer answer and you get more movement. through a decent microphone in the head of course now I will be able to talk to this figure and he answer me back. The "IF"  "THEN" statements. They make him seem really aware. Then I switch to Cyber buddy and click on tell me the weather and suddenly I have this 5 ft snowman telling me the weather and the news. Jees what a cool weekend this has been ..............It's ALIVE!!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!  [^][V][:(][:0][:)][^][:o)][:p][:(][:(!][:0][:)][:p]


TM


I took his hat off, they have finished the head in the white snow man material right up to the crown, it is stitched together. INSTANTLY, the snow man becomes the butler
« Last Edit: December 13, 2003, 11:04:31 pm by The Tinman »
 

Don Ferguson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 303
    • View Profile
    • http://www.cortrapar.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #16 on: December 16, 2003, 01:06:59 am »
Hello Tinman,

Wonderful!  Congratulations; you are the first member of the Ultra Hal community to report hooking up Hal to a life-sized character!  It sounds like he's working great!  I can visualize how the snowman, minus the hat (but with the jacket), would resemble a butler!

Great job!

Sincerely,

Don
Don Ferguson
E-mail: fergusonrkfd@prodigy.net
Website: www.cortrapar.com
Don's other forum posts: http://www.zabaware.com/forum/search.asp?mode=DoIt&MEMBER_ID=274

atfritz

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 16
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #17 on: December 16, 2003, 05:41:14 pm »
Woot Tinman...if you get a chance post pix of what you are going to set you snowman up as...As for Don, now you got me drooling over a 5 foot Homer Simpson.
 

Medeksza

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1469
    • View Profile
    • http://www.zabaware.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2003, 08:11:14 pm »
I've seen the dancing homer in my local mall but haven't seen any santas in my local walmart. I did a little Internet search and think this might be the homepage of the manufacture of the robots: http://www.nb-toys.com/product/HugeRobot.htm
Robert Medeksza

Don Ferguson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 303
    • View Profile
    • http://www.cortrapar.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #19 on: December 20, 2003, 01:06:17 pm »
Hello,

Robert, I checked out the site you found; it has more variety of characters than I've seen anywhere yet, and there are more capabilities listed!  Wow!  

For instance, they have clowns, rabbits, and bears, along with other characters.  Some are smaller, and some are life-sized.

Also, I note that some of the characters can bow as well as move and dance.  Some of the characters apparently communicate with each other via infrared transmissions to synchronize their performances with each other!

I'm continuing to get e-mails from folks who spot life-size robots in various retail places... apparently the retail marketing effort is inconsistent at best.  

To any readers who are considering purchasing a character and using it with Ultra-Hal:  EXAMINE the character and verify that it has an external audio input jack, and that it is able to lip-sync to that external audio.  The external audio jack will be in the base of the unit, labeled "AUX" or "MIC INPUT".  Some characters have this capability and some don't, and the sales-people generally don't know the difference!  

What an interesting development!  I hope that there are more characters in the future!

Sincerely,

Don
Don Ferguson
E-mail: fergusonrkfd@prodigy.net
Website: www.cortrapar.com
Don's other forum posts: http://www.zabaware.com/forum/search.asp?mode=DoIt&MEMBER_ID=274

Don Ferguson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 303
    • View Profile
    • http://www.cortrapar.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #20 on: December 21, 2003, 12:38:38 am »
Hello,

Here's another update:

A shopper in the Chicago western suburbs has reported seeing a 5-foot-tall robot Santa, a 5-foot-tall Mrs. Santa, and a 5-foot-tall Nutcracker/Soldier at a chain housewares/outdoors/seasonal merchandise store called "F.I.M."  

I am not familiar with the "F.I.M." retail chain, but this is the first sighting of yet another life-size audio-animatronic character (the Nutcracker/Soldier).

As I've mentioned above, if you're planning to drive a character with a stereo, a microphone, or Ultra-Hal via a computer audio output, make the sales-people show you the audio input jacks and demonstrate the lip-synchronization to your satisfaction!

Apparently some of these characters are designed with lip-synchronized speech capabilities, and some are not!

Best regards for the holidays!

Sincerely,

Don
Don Ferguson
E-mail: fergusonrkfd@prodigy.net
Website: www.cortrapar.com
Don's other forum posts: http://www.zabaware.com/forum/search.asp?mode=DoIt&MEMBER_ID=274

jabba

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2004, 02:12:29 am »
quote:
Originally posted by Don Ferguson

Hello,

Here's another update:

A shopper in the Chicago western suburbs has reported seeing a 5-foot-tall robot Santa, a 5-foot-tall Mrs. Santa, and a 5-foot-tall Nutcracker/Soldier at a chain housewares/outdoors/seasonal merchandise store called "F.I.M."  

I am not familiar with the "F.I.M." retail chain, but this is the first sighting of yet another life-size audio-animatronic character (the Nutcracker/Soldier).

As I've mentioned above, if you're planning to drive a character with a stereo, a microphone, or Ultra-Hal via a computer audio output, make the sales-people show you the audio input jacks and demonstrate the lip-synchronization to your satisfaction!

Apparently some of these characters are designed with lip-synchronized speech capabilities, and some are not!

Best regards for the holidays!

Sincerely,

Don




Today I got a ' 5 ft singing Santa's and I was wondering if there is any way to have a button put on my front gate, so that passers by, would be able to push it to make the Santa dance. Can you suggest anything that might enable me to be able to do that? Because it would be shame to let the Santa go to waste like that!
 

jabba

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #22 on: January 12, 2004, 02:14:18 am »
Today I got a ' 5 ft singing Santa's and I was wondering if there is any way to have a button put on my front gate, so that passers by, would be able to push it to make the Santa dance. Can you suggest anything that might enable me to be able to do that? Because it would be shame to let the Santa go to waste like that!

any ideas??????????
 

Don Ferguson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 303
    • View Profile
    • http://www.cortrapar.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #23 on: January 12, 2004, 01:14:09 pm »
Hi John,

I've received a lot of e-mails from people who have
purchased the inexpensive five-foot figures, made by
several manufacturers.

If you hooked up the figure to Ultra-Hal via your
computer, I hope that it worked well for you! (That
would only work if the figure you bought had an
external audio jack.)

I have a couple of ideas in response to your question
about putting a push-button at your gate, so
passers-by could "make Santa dance."

HOWEVER, first a DISCLAIMER:  Only allow electrical
work to be done by a qualified electrician, to avoid
fire and electrocution.  Also, any modifications to a
unit will almost certainly void its warranty.

Keeping the above warnings in mind, here are two
possibilities:

1.  If there is a push-button on the base of the unit
that initiates a dance-cycle, it might be possible to
hook up a button in parallel to it.  An electrician
should verify that the button carries low-voltage,
and/or should install a relay and small low-voltage
power supply so that only low-voltage goes to the
external push-button.

2.  Your Santa figure might have a "motion sensor"
mounted on the front of its base somewhere.  If this
exists, it would be a little hole approximately the
diameter of a pencil, with a photocell inside.
Generally, these inexpensive "motion sensors" merely
sense a change in the light level, as in a person
casting a shadow as he walks by.  If this is the case,
you might be able to hook up a low-voltage push-button
that lights a very small bulb in front of the sensor,
and get Santa to "cycle" for a dance performance.

Again, safety first, and use qualified personnel.

I hope that this is of some possible help to you.
Thanks for writing and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Don
Don Ferguson
E-mail: fergusonrkfd@prodigy.net
Website: www.cortrapar.com
Don's other forum posts: http://www.zabaware.com/forum/search.asp?mode=DoIt&MEMBER_ID=274

sadatvalentine

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
    • http://www.lotusmusicrecords.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2004, 02:04:04 pm »
Well I have been looking for a toy robot with voice functions and audio line in. It can be a head or full body. Something like those robot talking Kareoke machines in Japan. Any ideas anyone?

thanx
Sadat Valentine
Always a student

Lotus Music Records

Don Ferguson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 303
    • View Profile
    • http://www.cortrapar.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #25 on: January 25, 2004, 03:01:21 pm »
Hello Sadatvalentine,

You mentioned "Something like those robot talking Kareoke machines in Japan."

This sounds intriguing.  I am NOT familiar with Japanese singing robots, but I'm sure that many of us would like to learn about them.  What are they, what do they do, and what links can you offer so we can see photographs, read articles, etc.?

Thanks and have a good day!

Sincerely,

Don
Don Ferguson
E-mail: fergusonrkfd@prodigy.net
Website: www.cortrapar.com
Don's other forum posts: http://www.zabaware.com/forum/search.asp?mode=DoIt&MEMBER_ID=274

sadatvalentine

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
    • http://www.lotusmusicrecords.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #26 on: January 26, 2004, 11:47:05 am »
Hey Don,

  I see these little guys all over Japan everytime I am there. Saw one at a clients house when I was in Hong Kong the last time. I dont know about them online but I sure you can find them. Little robots with two mics and a display on his chest. Some have CD/Line inputs also. You could go to Japanese Google and type jinzouningen or robotto. Hope that helps.

Late
Sadat Valentine
Always a student

Lotus Music Records

sadatvalentine

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
    • http://www.lotusmusicrecords.com
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #27 on: January 26, 2004, 11:48:17 am »
Hey Don,

  I see these little guys all over Japan everytime I am there. Saw one at a clients house when I was in Hong Kong the last time. I dont know about them online but I sure you can find them. Little robots with two mics and a display on his chest. Some have CD/Line inputs also. You could go to Japanese Google and type jinzouningen or robotto. Hope that helps.

Late
Sadat Valentine
Always a student

Lotus Music Records

les

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #28 on: October 03, 2005, 01:59:44 pm »
I know this is an old thread, but it was new to me ;-)

So, I found the Santa at Wal-Mart (they start early now days) and also Mr. Bones (Halloween type) but I wanted to know how it turned out a year later.

There are some other great post along the same lines so if you have any ideals or links please send them my way

Thanks so much
Les

lesblaisdell@yahoo.com
 

johnboy4892

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 2
    • View Profile
5 Foot Tall $59 Animated Santa UltraHal Compatible
« Reply #29 on: October 22, 2005, 05:02:22 pm »
i went to my wal-mart here in fremont oh
and found the santa snowman and a pirate around 5 ft tall
i bought the pirate and took him home
hooked him up to my laptop
took the mike cord and pluged it into my home computer
and let the fun begin
i started to laugh so hard i thought i would wet my pants!
so you crazy folks keep this form up the longer people like me will have a blast
and if i find anything out for you i'll post again
thanks for your time