By PATRICK BURNS
Times Correspondent

UPPER PROVIDENCE

Real estate agents like to say how houses have a Personality. Dan Cohen's home has beauty, brains, personality and even speaks. Meet Alexander, the speaking module on the AS-4000, Cohen's ultimate home controller invention that converted his home into what he says is the most automated home in the world.  As Cohen explained yesterday how he hopes to get investors interested in mar-keting his product, an outside sensor detected movement.  A camera directed a picture of the mailman waving on the television screen in the kitchen prompting Alex to report,  "You've got mail."  “The house is only limited by your own imagination. The devices are here for automating things the way you want them," said Cohen.  Using infrared,

integrated technology and limited computer devices, he's automated the entire home including: The lighting, heating and cooling, security, entertainment and communications systems.  "Alex " says Cohen, initiating the system's interactive communication system. "What's up, Doc?" replies Alex. "Start the van."  The television screen this time in the living room flashes to the outside camera as the engine and lights turn on. Alexander announces, "The van is now running."  This is the final product of an invention he's tinkered with and tweaked since 1984. Before opening an Upper Darby computer business in 1979, Cohen worked in the medical field. He figured the automated home could be marketed to benefit the handicapped but now sees greater applications. "The voice recognition system is great for people with limit-ed dexterity. They can put on a wired head set and talk to the system. But that is not what a truly automated house is," says Cohen. "We're hoping that in 10 years from now every house being built will have a processor that is doing half of what I'm doing now. It's saved me thousands of dollars'. When the ice-maker in my refrigerator began to leak, Alexander caught it and shut off the water. A truly automated system works by itself. "I don't know of any homeowner, where at one point in time, a hose broke or the hot water heater broke. If you're not home when that happens you’re in trouble." Although he's been in the computer business for more than 20 years, Cohen knows not to trust them to run the system. Besides the synthesized voice of Alex and the time logs, noth-ing is computer operated. His system depends on a hard-wired, five-foot control box stuffed with circuit boards and hook-ups. Batteries kick in should the electricity go during a Y2K problem or a simple storm, keeping Alexander on duty for at least two weeks. Cohen and Alex can communicate with each other several ways. In the house the system responds to voice, wall switch-es, computer or telephone. If he is out Alex can reach Cohen with an alpha-numeric pager, e-mail, cell phone or telephone.  Every room has unique technology, if Alexander detects no motion while the garage door is open, he closes it in 15 min-utes. The kitchen uses sensors under the floor, a device used by seismologists. He even has a complete weather station above the house. The television has virtually its own network between regular channels. His own personal weather channel charts average temperatures and conditions as Alexander broadcasts.  While Cohen, 45, waits for a partner to help market the prod-uct he's sunk his life savings into, he's developed inventions that help his third career as a musician. From the automated house technology, he's developed syn-thetic horns and drums and a lighting system for Joe Corcoran and the Virtual Horn Band. He plays drums and his son, Robert, plays keyboards.  "The lighting system is an offshoot of the automated house and will probably be sold first, " says Cohen. "It is great for bands with a small budget. It gives the effect of a 10-man light crew. A local band can have the lighting that makes them look like Pink Floyd."