Pets are learning to use technology to communicate with people

Have you ever thought how great it would be if we could communicate with animals directly? Your dog or cat could let you know what exactly they need, what they are lacking or in certain situations, they could even help you. This is something that might be achievable in the near future. Scientists are constantly developing new technologies which allow animals to "say" what is currently on their minds.  

The times are continuously moving forward and we keep coming across newer and newer apps, which are supposed to simplify our lives or to make communication with our relatives easier, even if they are on the other side of the globe. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that scientists are attempting to make pets "talk". Many of you probably already have collars that measure your pet's heart rate, monitor their body temperature as well as their overall state of health, which can prevent some hidden health problems.

What about a vest or a collar capable of reading your pet's feelings? That's the focus of Anicall, who is based in Japan. Various sensors, located on a collar or a vest, can tell you on a display whether your pet is happy, angry, stressed or wants to play. This cutting-edge device can make new pet owners' lives much easier as they will be able to understand their pet's mood from the beginning.

An app by Wild Rose Cat Clinic works on a similar principle, revealing a cat's mood according to her facial expression.

Smart dog vests and collars can help the deaf or those experiencing a heart attack

New technologies can do much more today than just warning you that your pet is desperate to play. Imagine that one day a dog comes to you and through artificial intelligence instead of barking he tells you that his owner is in need of first aid. Distant future? Not quite. 

For example, the laboratories of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA, have for several years been successfully developing specialised vests with various features and sensors that allow dogs to call help in this way. Mutual communication is currently limited to calling for help or warning from various seizures. However, in the future, the vests could offer many other possibilities. In case of autistic children, the device incorporated into the vest could change the children's way of thinking by simply using a human voice to ask them to be fed. Just by pressing a sensor or a button, dogs could reveal much more to humans than what we can currently read from their body language.

The scientists from the Atlanta institute are also working on other breakthroughs than just talking vests - for example a collar that, through the human voice, could tell from trained movements of the head or paw, or a specific body "choreography", what your four-legged friend wants. And in the future, we might be able to have daily communication using touchscreen technology. Maybe something like a dog tablet, which a pet could use to alert his deaf owner that someone is at the door.  

Related articles

Cat on a leash: How to do it?

Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may...

Interactive toys for dogs

It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect...

Dog hygiene: Proper dog care

Our pets are often members of our families, so it goes without saying that we want to give them the same privileges and comforts as anyone else. Although we couldn’t imagine it in the beginning, our canine companions follow us everywhere. On the...

CBD Products: When can they be beneficial?

We usually want only the best for our pets. That is why we often look for ways to improve their quality of life and make sure to support their health as much as possible. We feed them with the best on the market, include regular walks and activities...

Dogdartbee: When a disc is thrown at a target

In this next part of our series dedicated to dogfrisbee, an activity where the dog is thrown a disc, which he then catches and brings back, we focus on the discipline of Dogdartbee. This discipline comes from the Netherlands and its main essence is...

Felinotherapy – When Cats Heal

Like dogs, even cats may have therapeutic effects on patients. This treatment method is called felinotherapy and is suitable for both chronically ill patients, who may need help with coping, and those who suffer from long-term stress. Cats can bring...

Choosing a puppy: What to consider?

Sharing a home with a puppy is a great joy as well as worry. Especially if you have no previous experience with a dog or other domestic animal. Before getting a puppy, you should take into account a number of things, think about them carefully and...