Placing a Phone Call

[Sprad]

I was late for work today. I must have turned off the alarm clock in my sleep, and didn't wake up until the sun was streaming through the window.

I'd rather not be late again, so maybe Perl can help!

I have an idea -- a deadman switch that runs on my work computer. If I don't check in by, say, 7:30, it triggers. When it triggers, it places a phone call and plays a recorded message telling me to get up and get to work.

Only problem is, I don't know how to make a Perl script place a phone call -- at least not without spending some money on a fancy VOIP system. Are there any free solutions for making a phone call via Perl?

[Corion]

Take a look at Asterisk and Asterisk or AGI. Also consider SIP if you already have a SIP-capable phone and want to do things the hard way.

[davido]

I just wanted to mention because of the topic of this question: Using VOIP with Perl will be one of the two presentations given at the next Los Angeles Perl Mongers meeting. The presentation is entitled, "Mike Frager: VOIP with perl and asterisk/freepbx". Anyone in the LA area interested follow the link for specifics.

To everyone else (not in LA): Find the Perl Mongers group nearest you!

I realize this presentation will probably be too late and/or too far away for the person who asked this question. So if Mike makes the slides available online I'll (with his permission) follow up to this post with a link to them. At least then it will only be too late (no longer too far), and hopefully a future reader may benefit.

[Anonymous Monk]

Hi,

A simpler solution might be to set up a Fax printer on your work box, and then print to it, making your home phone ring.

The whistles and beeps you get when you answer should be enough to alert you and get you up.

Hopefully

J.C.

[zentara]

I saw this great article on Perl and telephones on Gabor Szabo's Perl Weekly Newsletter. It's cheap, and a free trial is allowed. See automating telephony with Perl and Twillo

[ww]

Not a telephonic solution...but:
1. Buy (or find) old style, windup alarm clock
2. Buy (or find) motion (or sound: aka mic) detector
3. Wire output of detector to amplifier
4. wire amp output to solenoid adequate to open a valve on a compressed air tank
5. Acquire airhorn (see your local junkyard or consult a railway) - disused Fire Engines are a great source.
6. Connect airhorn to compressed air via the solenoid-controlled valve
7. Install completed contraption at the foot of your bed
8. Roll out on or before the alarm clock goes off (to save your hearing and sanity, if any)
9. Program something useful (for some undetermined value of same)

    :<})

[Anonymous Monk]

:)

metal pot, tray ...

balance metal on a cup or two

place phone onto metal , turn on vibrate and sound

for added effectiveness, use one cup, off balance, on headboard (above your head)

[Sprad]

I love it! But if I did that, then next I'd have to post asking for a Perl module to assist in optimally dividing up possessions when my wife leaves me.

[Anonymous Monk]

The set partitioning problem is quite easy when it all goes into her box anyways.

[ambrus]

Your phone service provider very likely has an alarm clock service you can use. You tell them when to wake you, and they phone you at that time. They can do repeated alarms, that is, you can order a wake up call for every weekday. There's no need reimplement that.

[Anonymous Monk]

56K modemz for the win ^.^ ATDT 1234 //dial 1234 ATH //hangup