Below is information about a talking thermostat.  I have recently purchased it, and it works great.  No more guessing at the thermostat setting.

The price is $149.50 with a $10 shipping charge.  For more information, contact Harry Cohen at
800 838-8860, or refer to www.talkingthermostats.com

Harvey Boots

The VIP Series is the first digital thermostat with audio playback of day, time, indoor temperature, temperature settings and programming instructions so blind and visually impaired users can precisely and easily manage their indoor comfort.  The VIP Series promotes independent living along with energy management by taking the guess work out of setting and maintaining the correct comfort level.

Today, thermostats come in a variety of shapes.  Round, which can be difficult to grip, read and adjust, rectangular with LCD displays that are difficult to see and thermostats with levers that are difficult to set.  The VIP Series of "talking thermostats" is rectangular and uses push buttons.  With each press of the over sized up or down arrow shaped buttons, the talking thermostat "speaks" the temperature setting to the user, i.e., 68, 69, 70, etc.  Pressing the "REPORT" button, the user hears the day, time, current room temperature and temperature setting.  Other thermostat settings are also easy to perform because of the built-in voice instructions.

In addition to the verbal instructions mentioned above, a CD with complete instructions to operate and program the VIP is included with each thermostat.  These instructions are in MP3 and Wave file format and can be listened to using a CD player or computer.  A text file is also included that can be listened to using JAWS or any text to speech software.

The VIP is a single zone battery powered thermostat that can be setup for either programmable (night setback) or non-programmable (manual) operation depending on the application.  In the programmable mode, the VIP functions as a setback thermostat with 5+2 programming.  Five plus two programming means that Monday through Friday, there are four separate programs per 24 hour period, wake, day, evening and sleep.  Four different programs can be entered to suit your weekend schedule.  In the non-programmable mode, all automatic setback functions are turned off and the VIP functions as a manual "talking thermostat".

The VIP uses four AA batteries with a typical battery life of 2 years.  When batteries get weak, a low battery announcement will be heard when the "REPORT" button is pressed.  The low battery announcement begins approximately 2 weeks before the batteries completely fail.  This gives the user ample time to change the batteries.

The VIP has built in freeze protection.  In the unlikely event the thermostat is inadvertently turned off, becomes inoperative or the batteries fail, the residence will be maintained at 40 degrees until the problem has been corrected.

There are two models of the VIP available.  The VIP 1001 offers heating and cooling control for conventional gas, oil and electric systems.  The VIP 2000 offers heating and cooling control for heat pump systems.  Both models replace most 2, 3, 4 and 5 wire analog and digital thermostats including the very popular "round" model.


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