As digital devices permeate our homes and social lives, it’s possible tech could help us communicate more effectively with our animals. Using a pet cam to monitor what the animals get up to while you’re out could help you understand your pet’s preferences, or allow you to give them guidance or reassurance in your absence.
Dogs can learn to ring a bell to tell us they want to go outside - so why not teach them to operate specially designed computers to communicate more complex thoughts? Wouldn't you love to know if your pets long for more quality time with you and less outside play? If they adore that tuna dish you occasionally prepare for them?
Dr Clara Mancini at Open University is one of a growing band of researchers investigating animal-appropriate interfaces using touchscreen technology, gesture-based controllers or nose-sized buttons.
Researchers in Norway are taking a rather different approach. Adapting existing headsets which can read human brain-waves, they are hoping to develop a headset to translate a dog’s thoughts into human language. Putting aside the confronting appearance of the prototype unit, this raises some difficult dilemmas for any pet owner. Do I have the right to read my dog’s private thoughts? Does it matter that he hasn’t chosen to use this technology, and doesn’t understand its purpose?
As digital technology enters our animals' lives, let's try to use it to give our pets more choice and control over their lives.