Add spoken spatial clock announcements with top-of-hour mode

client/public/version.js

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R268";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R269";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";

client/src/audio/audioEngine.ts

@@ -406,6 +406,60 @@ export class AudioEngine {
     }
   }
 
+  /** Plays one spatial sample and resolves when playback finishes. */
+  async playSpatialSampleAndWait(
+    url: string,
+    sourcePosition: { x: number; y: number },
+    playerPosition: { x: number; y: number },
+    gain = 1,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    await this.ensureContext();
+    const { audioCtx, sfxGainNode } = this;
+    if (!audioCtx || !sfxGainNode) return;
+
+    try {
+      const buffer = await this.getSampleBuffer(url);
+      const source = audioCtx.createBufferSource();
+      source.buffer = buffer;
+      const gainNode = audioCtx.createGain();
+      gainNode.gain.setValueAtTime(0, audioCtx.currentTime);
+      source.connect(gainNode);
+      let pannerNode: StereoPannerNode | null = null;
+      if (this.supportsStereoPanner() && this.outputMode === 'stereo') {
+        pannerNode = audioCtx.createStereoPanner();
+        gainNode.connect(pannerNode).connect(sfxGainNode);
+      } else {
+        gainNode.connect(sfxGainNode);
+      }
+      const runtime: ActiveSpatialSampleRuntime = {
+        sourceX: sourcePosition.x,
+        sourceY: sourcePosition.y,
+        baseGain: gain,
+        gainNode,
+        pannerNode,
+        sourceNode: source,
+      };
+      this.activeSpatialSamples.add(runtime);
+      this.applySpatialSampleRuntime(runtime, playerPosition, true);
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+        source.onended = () => {
+          this.activeSpatialSamples.delete(runtime);
+          try {
+            source.disconnect();
+          } catch {
+            // Ignore stale graph disconnects.
+          }
+          gainNode.disconnect();
+          pannerNode?.disconnect();
+          resolve();
+        };
+        source.start();
+      });
+    } catch {
+      // Ignore sample decode/load errors.
+    }
+  }
+
   async playSample(url: string, gain = 1, fadeInMs = 0): Promise<void> {
     await this.ensureContext();
     const { audioCtx, sfxGainNode } = this;

client/src/audio/clockAnnouncer.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { AudioEngine } from './audioEngine';
+
+type ListenerPositionGetter = () => { x: number; y: number };
+
+/**
+ * Plays server-provided clock speech sequences as spatial one-shots.
+ */
+export class ClockAnnouncer {
+  private playToken = 0;
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly audio: AudioEngine,
+    private readonly getListenerPosition: ListenerPositionGetter,
+  ) {}
+
+  async playSequence(sounds: string[], sourceX: number, sourceY: number): Promise<void> {
+    if (sounds.length === 0) return;
+    const token = ++this.playToken;
+    for (const sound of sounds) {
+      if (token !== this.playToken) return;
+      const listener = this.getListenerPosition();
+      await this.audio.playSpatialSampleAndWait(sound, { x: sourceX, y: sourceY }, listener, 1);
+    }
+  }
+}
+

client/src/main.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   shouldProxyStreamUrl,
 } from './audio/radioStationRuntime';
 import { ItemEmitRuntime } from './audio/itemEmitRuntime';
+import { ClockAnnouncer } from './audio/clockAnnouncer';
 import { normalizeDegrees } from './audio/spatial';
 import {
   applyPastedText,
@@ -243,6 +244,7 @@ const messageBuffer: string[] = [];
 let messageCursor = -1;
 const radioRuntime = new RadioStationRuntime(audio, getItemSpatialConfig);
 const itemEmitRuntime = new ItemEmitRuntime(audio, resolveIncomingSoundUrl, getItemSpatialConfig);
+const clockAnnouncer = new ClockAnnouncer(audio, () => ({ x: state.player.x, y: state.player.y }));
 let internalClipboardText = '';
 let replaceTextOnNextType = false;
 let pendingEscapeDisconnect = false;
@@ -1658,6 +1660,9 @@ const onAppMessage = createOnMessageHandler({
   playIncomingItemUseSound: (url, x, y) => {
     void audio.playSpatialSample(url, { x, y }, { x: state.player.x, y: state.player.y }, 1);
   },
+  playClockAnnouncement: (sounds, x, y) => {
+    void clockAnnouncer.playSequence(sounds.map(resolveIncomingSoundUrl), x, y);
+  },
   handleAuthRequired,
   handleAuthResult,
   isPeerNegotiationReady: () => peerNegotiationReady,

client/src/network/messageHandlers.ts

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ type MessageHandlerDeps = {
   playLocateToneAt: (x: number, y: number) => void;
   resolveIncomingSoundUrl: (url: string) => string;
   playIncomingItemUseSound: (url: string, x: number, y: number) => void;
+  playClockAnnouncement: (sounds: string[], x: number, y: number) => void;
   handleAuthRequired: (message: Extract<IncomingMessage, { type: 'auth_required' }>) => void;
   handleAuthResult: (message: Extract<IncomingMessage, { type: 'auth_result' }>) => Promise<void>;
   isPeerNegotiationReady: () => boolean;
@@ -267,19 +268,26 @@ export function createOnMessageHandler(deps: MessageHandlerDeps): (message: Inco
         if (handledByItemBehavior) {
           break;
         }
+        const text = message.message.trim();
         if (message.ok) {
           if (message.action === 'use' || message.action === 'secondary_use') {
-            deps.pushChatMessage(message.message);
+            if (text) {
+              deps.pushChatMessage(text);
+            }
             const item = message.itemId ? deps.getItemById(message.itemId) : null;
             if (message.action === 'use' && !item?.useSound && item && item.type !== 'piano') {
               deps.playLocateToneAt(item.x, item.y);
             }
           } else if (message.action !== 'update') {
-            deps.pushChatMessage(message.message);
+            if (text) {
+              deps.pushChatMessage(text);
+            }
             deps.audioUiConfirm();
           }
         } else {
-          deps.pushChatMessage(message.message);
+          if (text) {
+            deps.pushChatMessage(text);
+          }
           deps.audioUiCancel();
         }
         break;
@@ -300,6 +308,12 @@ export function createOnMessageHandler(deps: MessageHandlerDeps): (message: Inco
         break;
       }
 
+      case 'item_clock_announce': {
+        if (!deps.getAudioLayers().world) break;
+        deps.playClockAnnouncement(message.sounds, message.x, message.y);
+        break;
+      }
+
       case 'item_piano_status': {
         deps.handlePianoStatus(message);
         break;

client/src/network/protocol.ts

@@ -215,6 +215,14 @@ export const itemUseSoundSchema = z.object({
   y: z.number().int(),
 });
 
+export const itemClockAnnounceSchema = z.object({
+  type: z.literal('item_clock_announce'),
+  itemId: z.string(),
+  sounds: z.array(z.string()),
+  x: z.number().int(),
+  y: z.number().int(),
+});
+
 export const itemPianoNoteSchema = z.object({
   type: z.literal('item_piano_note'),
   itemId: z.string(),
@@ -265,6 +273,7 @@ export const incomingMessageSchema = z.discriminatedUnion('type', [
   itemRemoveSchema,
   itemActionResultSchema,
   itemUseSoundSchema,
+  itemClockAnnounceSchema,
   itemPianoNoteSchema,
   itemPianoStatusSchema,
 ]);

docs/item-schema.md

@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@
 ```json
 {
   "timeZone": "America/Detroit",
-  "use24Hour": false
+  "use24Hour": false,
+  "topOfHourAnnounce": true
 }
 ```
 
@@ -132,7 +133,9 @@
   `Europe/London`, `Europe/Moscow`, `Pacific/Apia`, `Pacific/Auckland`, `Pacific/Chatham`,
   `Pacific/Honolulu`, `Pacific/Kiritimati`, `Pacific/Noumea`, `Pacific/Pago_Pago`, `UTC`.
 - `use24Hour`: boolean (or `on/off` in updates), default `false`.
+- `topOfHourAnnounce`: boolean (or `on/off` in updates), default `true`.
 - Global defaults: `useSound=none`, `emitSound=sounds/clock.ogg`.
+- Clock speech announcement audio is emitted via `item_clock_announce` packets using `/sounds/clock/el640/*.ogg`.
 
 ### `widget`
 
@@ -241,6 +244,18 @@
 }
 ```
 
+- `item_clock_announce`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "type": "item_clock_announce",
+  "itemId": "item-id",
+  "sounds": ["/sounds/clock/el640/its.ogg", "/sounds/clock/el640/2.ogg", "/sounds/clock/el640/PM.ogg"],
+  "x": 12,
+  "y": 8
+}
+```
+
 - `item_piano_note`:
 
 ```json

docs/item-types.md

@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ This is behavior-focused documentation for item types and their defaults.
 - Params:
   - `timeZone="America/Detroit"`
   - `use24Hour=false`
+  - `topOfHourAnnounce=true`
 - Global:
   - `useSound=none`
   - `emitSound=sounds/clock.ogg`
@@ -109,11 +110,17 @@ This is behavior-focused documentation for item types and their defaults.
   - `directional=false`
 
 ### Use
-- Reports current time from item timezone and format.
+- Broadcasts a spoken EL640-style time announcement as spatial audio from the clock position.
+- No text chat line is emitted for clock `use`.
 
 ### Validation
 - `timeZone`: one of `CLOCK_TIME_ZONE_OPTIONS` in `server/app/item_catalog.py`
 - `use24Hour`: boolean or on/off style input
+- `topOfHourAnnounce`: boolean or on/off style input
+
+### Audio
+- Spoken clock assets live under `client/public/sounds/clock/el640/`.
+- Top-of-hour routine (when enabled) uses `hour1.ogg` + time phrase + `hour2.ogg`.
 
 ## `widget`
 

docs/protocol-notes.md

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ This is a behavior guide for packet semantics beyond raw schemas.
 - `item_remove`: item deletion.
 - `item_action_result`: action success/failure and user-facing message.
 - `item_use_sound`: spatial one-shot sound on successful item use (if `useSound` configured).
+- `item_clock_announce`: ordered list of clock speech samples to play sequentially as spatial audio.
 - `item_piano_note`: broadcast piano note on/off with resolved instrument/envelope/spatial params.
 - `item_piano_status`: structured piano mode/record/playback state events for client runtime control.
 
@@ -50,6 +51,11 @@ This is a behavior guide for packet semantics beyond raw schemas.
 - `item_piano_status` carries machine-readable piano events (`use_mode_entered`, record/playback transitions).
 - `item_use_sound` contains absolute item world coordinates (`x`, `y`) and sound path.
   - For carried items, source coordinates resolve to the carrier's current position.
+- `item_clock_announce` contains:
+  - `itemId`
+  - `sounds`: ordered sample URLs (EL640 phrase parts)
+  - absolute source coordinates `x`, `y`
+  - generated by server for manual clock `use` and top-of-hour auto announce (when enabled)
 - `teleport_complete` contains absolute player world coordinates (`x`, `y`) at teleport landing.
 - Radio metadata (`params.stationName`, `params.nowPlaying`) is server-managed and delivered through normal `item_upsert` updates.
 - `item_piano_note` contains:

server/app/items/types/clock/actions.py

@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ from ....models import WorldItem
 def use_item(item: WorldItem, nickname: str, clock_formatter: Callable[[dict], str]) -> ItemUseResult:
     """Read current clock time based on item configuration."""
 
-    display_time = clock_formatter(item.params)
+    _display_time = clock_formatter(item.params)
     return ItemUseResult(
-        self_message=f"{item.title} says {display_time}.",
-        others_message=f"{nickname} checks {item.title}. {item.title} says {display_time}.",
+        self_message="",
+        others_message="",
     )

server/app/items/types/clock/definition.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 LABEL = "clock"
 TOOLTIP = "It tells the time. What did you think it did?"
-EDITABLE_PROPERTIES: tuple[str, ...] = ("title", "timeZone", "use24Hour")
+EDITABLE_PROPERTIES: tuple[str, ...] = ("title", "timeZone", "use24Hour", "topOfHourAnnounce")
 CAPABILITIES: tuple[str, ...] = ("editable", "carryable", "deletable", "usable")
 USE_SOUND: str | None = None
 EMIT_SOUND = "sounds/clock.ogg"
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ TIME_ZONE_OPTIONS: tuple[str, ...] = (
     "Pacific/Pago_Pago",
     "UTC",
 )
-DEFAULT_PARAMS: dict = {"timeZone": DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE, "use24Hour": False}
-PARAM_KEYS: tuple[str, ...] = ("timeZone", "use24Hour")
+DEFAULT_PARAMS: dict = {"timeZone": DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE, "use24Hour": False, "topOfHourAnnounce": True}
+PARAM_KEYS: tuple[str, ...] = ("timeZone", "use24Hour", "topOfHourAnnounce")
 
 PROPERTY_METADATA: dict[str, dict[str, object]] = {
     "title": {"valueType": "text", "tooltip": "Display name spoken and shown for this item.", "maxLength": 80},
     "timeZone": {"valueType": "list", "tooltip": "Timezone used when the clock speaks time.", "options": list(TIME_ZONE_OPTIONS)},
     "use24Hour": {"valueType": "boolean", "tooltip": "Use 24 hour format instead of AM/PM."},
+    "topOfHourAnnounce": {"valueType": "boolean", "tooltip": "Automatically announce time at the top of each hour."},
 }

server/app/items/types/clock/validator.py

@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ def validate_update(_item: WorldItem, next_params: dict) -> dict:
     use_24_hour = parse_bool_like_or_none(next_params.get("use24Hour"))
     if use_24_hour is None:
         raise ValueError("use24Hour must be on/off.")
+    top_of_hour_announce = parse_bool_like_or_none(next_params.get("topOfHourAnnounce"))
+    if top_of_hour_announce is None:
+        raise ValueError("topOfHourAnnounce must be on/off.")
     next_params["timeZone"] = time_zone
     next_params["use24Hour"] = use_24_hour
+    next_params["topOfHourAnnounce"] = top_of_hour_announce
     return keep_only_known_params(next_params, PARAM_KEYS)

server/app/models.py

@@ -294,6 +294,14 @@ class ItemUseSoundPacket(BasePacket):
     y: int
 
 
+class ItemClockAnnouncePacket(BasePacket):
+    type: Literal["item_clock_announce"]
+    itemId: str
+    sounds: list[str]
+    x: int
+    y: int
+
+
 class ItemPianoNoteBroadcastPacket(BasePacket):
     type: Literal["item_piano_note"]
     itemId: str

server/app/server.py

@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ from .models import (
     ForwardSignalPacket,
     ItemActionResultPacket,
     ItemAddPacket,
+    ItemClockAnnouncePacket,
     ItemDeletePacket,
     ItemDropPacket,
     ItemPianoNoteBroadcastPacket,
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ AUTH_FAILURE_JITTER_MIN_MS = 0.02
 AUTH_FAILURE_JITTER_MAX_MS = 0.08
 RADIO_METADATA_POLL_INTERVAL_S = 10.0
 RADIO_METADATA_TIMEOUT_S = 6.0
+CLOCK_ANNOUNCE_POLL_INTERVAL_S = 1.0
 
 
 class SignalingServer:
@@ -160,6 +162,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
         self._auth_failures_by_ip: dict[str, deque[float]] = {}
         self._auth_failures_by_identity: dict[str, deque[float]] = {}
         self._radio_metadata_task: asyncio.Task[None] | None = None
+        self._clock_announce_task: asyncio.Task[None] | None = None
+        self._clock_top_of_hour_markers: dict[str, str] = {}
 
     @staticmethod
     def _resolve_server_version() -> str:
@@ -440,6 +444,98 @@ class SignalingServer:
         except asyncio.CancelledError:
             return
 
+    @classmethod
+    def _build_clock_announcement_sounds(cls, params: dict, *, top_of_hour: bool) -> list[str]:
+        """Build ordered EL640 sample URLs for one clock announcement."""
+
+        tz_name = cls._normalize_clock_timezone(params.get("timeZone"))
+        use_24_hour = cls._parse_clock_use_24_hour(params.get("use24Hour")) is True
+        now = datetime.now(ZoneInfo(tz_name))
+        hour24 = now.hour
+        minute = now.minute
+        ampm = "AM" if hour24 < 12 else "PM"
+        hour12 = hour24 % 12 or 12
+
+        sounds: list[str] = []
+        if top_of_hour:
+            sounds.append("/sounds/clock/el640/hour1.ogg")
+        sounds.append("/sounds/clock/el640/its.ogg")
+
+        if use_24_hour:
+            if hour24 < 20:
+                sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{hour24}.ogg")
+            else:
+                tens = (hour24 // 10) * 10
+                ones = hour24 % 10
+                sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{tens}.ogg")
+                if ones != 0:
+                    sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{ones}.ogg")
+        else:
+            sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{hour12}.ogg")
+
+        if minute > 0:
+            if minute < 10:
+                sounds.append("/sounds/clock/el640/o.ogg")
+            if minute < 20:
+                sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{minute}.ogg")
+            else:
+                tens = (minute // 10) * 10
+                ones = minute % 10
+                sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{tens}.ogg")
+                if ones != 0:
+                    sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{ones}.ogg")
+
+        if not use_24_hour:
+            sounds.append(f"/sounds/clock/el640/{ampm}.ogg")
+        if top_of_hour:
+            sounds.append("/sounds/clock/el640/hour2.ogg")
+        return sounds
+
+    async def _broadcast_clock_announcement(self, item: WorldItem, *, top_of_hour: bool) -> None:
+        """Broadcast one server-authoritative clock speech sequence from item position."""
+
+        sound_x, sound_y = self._get_item_sound_source_position(item)
+        sounds = self._build_clock_announcement_sounds(item.params, top_of_hour=top_of_hour)
+        if not sounds:
+            return
+        await self._broadcast(
+            ItemClockAnnouncePacket(
+                type="item_clock_announce",
+                itemId=item.id,
+                sounds=sounds,
+                x=sound_x,
+                y=sound_y,
+            )
+        )
+
+    async def _run_clock_top_of_hour_loop(self) -> None:
+        """Background polling loop that triggers top-of-hour speech for clock items."""
+
+        try:
+            while True:
+                valid_clock_ids = {item.id for item in self.items.values() if item.type == "clock"}
+                for stale_id in list(self._clock_top_of_hour_markers.keys()):
+                    if stale_id not in valid_clock_ids:
+                        self._clock_top_of_hour_markers.pop(stale_id, None)
+                for item in self.items.values():
+                    if item.type != "clock":
+                        continue
+                    enabled = item.params.get("topOfHourAnnounce", True)
+                    if enabled is not True:
+                        continue
+                    tz_name = self._normalize_clock_timezone(item.params.get("timeZone"))
+                    now = datetime.now(ZoneInfo(tz_name))
+                    if now.minute != 0 or now.second > 1:
+                        continue
+                    marker = now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d-%H")
+                    if self._clock_top_of_hour_markers.get(item.id) == marker:
+                        continue
+                    self._clock_top_of_hour_markers[item.id] = marker
+                    await self._broadcast_clock_announcement(item, top_of_hour=True)
+                await asyncio.sleep(CLOCK_ANNOUNCE_POLL_INTERVAL_S)
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:
+            return
+
     def _get_item_sound_source_position(self, item: WorldItem) -> tuple[int, int]:
         """Resolve source position for item-emitted one-shot sounds."""
 
@@ -933,6 +1029,7 @@ class SignalingServer:
         protocol = "wss" if self._ssl_context else "ws"
         LOGGER.info("starting signaling server on %s://%s:%d", protocol, self.host, self.port)
         self._radio_metadata_task = asyncio.create_task(self._run_radio_metadata_loop())
+        self._clock_announce_task = asyncio.create_task(self._run_clock_top_of_hour_loop())
         try:
             async with serve(
                 self._handle_client,
@@ -943,6 +1040,11 @@ class SignalingServer:
             ):
                 await asyncio.Future()
         finally:
+            if self._clock_announce_task is not None:
+                self._clock_announce_task.cancel()
+                with suppress(asyncio.CancelledError):
+                    await self._clock_announce_task
+                self._clock_announce_task = None
             if self._radio_metadata_task is not None:
                 self._radio_metadata_task.cancel()
                 with suppress(asyncio.CancelledError):
@@ -1660,10 +1762,11 @@ class SignalingServer:
                 await self._broadcast_item(item)
 
             self.item_last_use_ms[item.id] = now_ms
-            await self._broadcast(
-                BroadcastChatMessagePacket(type="chat_message", message=use_result.others_message, system=True),
-                exclude=client.websocket,
-            )
+            if use_result.others_message:
+                await self._broadcast(
+                    BroadcastChatMessagePacket(type="chat_message", message=use_result.others_message, system=True),
+                    exclude=client.websocket,
+                )
             use_sound = self._resolve_item_use_sound(item)
             if use_sound:
                 sound_x, sound_y = self._get_item_sound_source_position(item)
@@ -1676,6 +1779,8 @@ class SignalingServer:
                         y=sound_y,
                     )
                 )
+            if item.type == "clock":
+                await self._broadcast_clock_announcement(item, top_of_hour=False)
             if item.type == "piano":
                 await self._send_piano_status(
                     client,
@@ -2087,3 +2192,4 @@ def run() -> None:
         state_save_max_delay_ms=config.storage.state_save_max_delay_ms,
     )
     asyncio.run(server.start())
+    ItemClockAnnouncePacket,

server/tests/test_item_use_cooldown.py

@@ -240,13 +240,12 @@ async def test_clock_use_reports_time_without_use_sound_packet(monkeypatch: pyte
     monkeypatch.setattr(server, "_send", fake_send)
     monkeypatch.setattr(server, "_broadcast", fake_broadcast)
     monkeypatch.setattr(server.item_service, "now_ms", lambda: 30_000)
-    monkeypatch.setattr(server, "_format_clock_display_time", lambda _params: "2:15 PM")
-
     await server._handle_message(client, json.dumps({"type": "item_use", "itemId": item.id}))
 
     assert send_payloads[-1].ok is True
-    assert send_payloads[-1].message == f"{item.title} says 2:15 PM."
+    assert send_payloads[-1].message == ""
     assert not any(getattr(packet, "type", "") == "item_use_sound" for packet in broadcast_payloads)
+    assert any(getattr(packet, "type", "") == "item_clock_announce" for packet in broadcast_payloads)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio