Abstract: A voice actuated VCR controller includes increment and decrements buttons, and instruction button. Upon user battery insertion, and audio prompt requesting sequential setting of the day, hour, and minute occurs utilizing the increment and decrements buttons. Presuming the clock is set, and the device turned on, the decision tree protocol is activated. The protocol includes asking sequentially for the day, hour, and minute, AM and/or PM time for both the start and stop of VCR recording. Thereafter, the correct times are verified, the user instructed to turn on his VCR, insert a tape, and place the voice actuated VCR controller addressed to the VCR. In an alternate embodiment, the voice actuated VCR can make a presumption for VCR programming based on information in the controller, announce to the user the presumption and inquiring whether the presumption is correct, receiving an answer to the announced presumption, and in the event that the presumption is incorrect, receiving corrected information.

Abstract: A simplified VCR programmer provides only the essential input controls required for programming a VCR to perform timer activated recording of television programs. The invention performs seven day single event programming including weekly recording or Monday through Friday (M-F) daily recording. This simplified VCR programmer includes directly manipulable input controls for setting the record start time including AM or PM, the record stop time and the day of the week. The VCR programmer also includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays the correct time and day of the week, and an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitting the manufacturers' record codes and stop codes stored in the VCR programmer. The real time clock on the LCD is set by three push-button switches to set the day, hour and minute of the clock. A test push-button switch tests the record code function by sending out the stored record codes to the VCR receiver.