Electronic voice alert
Electronic voice alert (EVA) was an option available on many Chrysler K-car-based vehicles in the mid-1980s.[1] Using technology of Texas Instruments LPC Speech Chips, also used in the Speak & Spell, the EVA would automatically lower the radio volume and deliver eleven different spoken warning messages[2] (24 on certain models)[3] to drivers using a speech synthesizer.[4]
Generally paired with a digital instrument cluster and considered the height of technology at the time, many drivers grew weary of the system constantly admonishing them to fasten their seatbelts and turned it off via removing a fuse,[5] which sometimes deactivates the fuel gauge.[6] Later models had the option to be turned off via a switch in the glovebox.[7]
The EVA was available on the Chrysler LeBaron[8] (and the optional Mark Cross Edition), Chrysler Town and Country Wagon, Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Chrysler New Yorker,[9] Chrysler Laser, Dodge Daytona,[10] and Dodge 600 between 1983 and 1988.[11][12][13] Models sold in Canada accommodated both English and French. Models sold in Mexico spoke Spanish.[14][15]
The "voice box" for the EVA was wired into the factory radio to play through the vehicle's factory driver's door speaker. Replacing the factory radio with a later model or aftermarket one would defeat the system.
A similar system was used on 1984-1986 Nissan 300ZX, Nissan 200SX, and the Nissan Maxima GL and GLE models.[16] In those cars the EVA messages are played from a miniature phonograph record,[17] similar used in speaking dolls.
References
- ^ Dunne, Jim (October 1982). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. p. 98.
- ^ Schuon, Marshall (1982-11-28). "About Cars; Chrysler's Sports Sedan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ "1989 Lincoln Town Car Fuse Box Diagram Wiring Diagrams Schematics And 2000". kiosystems.me. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ "Speak and Spell | Hackaday". Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ Smith, Kyle. "Chrysler's talking K-car was oh-so-1980s". www.hagerty.com. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ List of circuit breakers of the vehicle.
- ^ "Klassiker für 5000 Euro: Chrysler New Yorker". autobild.de. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. November 1982. p. 105.
- ^ Princeton Alumni Weekly. princeton alumni weekly. 1983. p. 50.
- ^ Dunne, Jim; Keebler, Jack (March 1983). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. p. 20.
- ^ Johnson, Bob (1983-02-21). Computerworld. IDG Enterprise. p. 23.
- ^ Orange Coast Magazine. Emmis Communications. January 1983. p. 156.
- ^ Smith, Kyle. "Chrysler's talking K-car was oh-so-1980s". www.hagerty.com. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ "Chrysler Electronic Voice Alert Identification". www.stanwatkins.com. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ "This hacker got a Chrysler Electronic Voice Alert system to talk again". Autoweek. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ^ James, Wanda (2005-01-01). Driving from Japan: Japanese Cars in America. McFarland. p. 93. ISBN 9780786417346.
- ^ "When cars talked using tiny phonograph records: Nissan's Voice Warning system". Autoweek. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
