Dogphone helps pet dog phone contact their owners

Researchers from Scotland and Finland have developed a new phone for dogs called Dogphone, which helps pets to make video calls with their owners.

The system, the first of its kind, allows animals to use the Internet to communicate with their owners.

In the future, its creators say, it could help tackle separation anxiety in pets that used to have people around the house during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dogphone It is the result of a collaboration between Dr. Elena Herskij Douglas, from University of GlasgowA 10-year-old Labrador, zachTogether with colleagues from Aalto University in Finland.

DogPhone was tested with Zack, Labrador Retriever and study author

The expert built an internet-connected accelerometer and then hid it inside a sphere. After several auditions, Zack received pre-game training.

during the tests, Dogphone Zack allowed Dr. Hirskyj to lift and shake a ball fitted with an accelerometer.

The video shows how the accelerometer detected motion and then started a video call, allowing Zack to see and interact with his owner. According to the creators DogphoneThe system can also be used to call the pet, and you are free to answer or ignore a call.

The specialist said that although there are hundreds of “smart toys” connected to the Internet, the vast majority of them are built with the needs of their owners in mind, not their pets.

“So few seem to think about what dogs might want, or how technology can benefit them as living beings with their own thoughts and feelings.”

Elena Herskig Douglas, University of Glasgow

Although she had the best results, the specialist admitted she was not sure Zach was aware of the causal relationship between raising the ball and making a call to Dogphone. However, it was clear that on some occasions he was definitely interested in what he was seeing.

“The unexpected consequence of the experiment was that at times I was anxious, but when I called Zack he wasn’t in front of the camera or he wasn’t even close to the screen”And Hirskyj said.