MIT Media Lab Pet Projects How Can Computer

MIT Media Lab Pet Projects How Can Computer Technology Improve the Lives of Companion Animals? Benjamin Resner, Graduate Student Graduate Advisors: Assistant Professor Bruce Blumberg Visiting Professor Irene Pepperberg

Overview • US Statistics: – – – 60% household own pets 65% purchase Xmas gift for dog Up to $6 k / year for “doggie day care” 30 billion on pet supplies each year 30% say they are closer to dog than best friend 10% say they are closer to dog than spouse • Yet there is no directed academic research how technology can improve the lives of animals

Design Methodology

Design Methodology • Observe: – What pets do – Physiological & psychological modalities – How pets and owners interact • Build devices that: – Facilitate & enhance observed behavior – Incorporate innate play pattern – Contain cues for pet to recognize similarity to source activity

Design Methodology • Don’t – Take devices designed for humans and put them in front of an animal – Pursue an idea because it’s “funny” or “cute” – Lazily anthropomorphize • Pets are a totally new “demographic”

Project Highlights • Inter. Pet Explorer • Rover@home And many more: Serial Tracking, Cat. Bot, Think. Tank, Tigers in Touch, Bird. Sitter, Poly. Glot computer, Robo. Wren, Parrot GPS.

Inter. Pet Explorer • NOT teaching birds how to use the Internet • Providing birds with an interactive electronic environment • Preliminary results show birds are using device as intended

Rover@Home clicker train your dog over the internet HOME WORK Internet Work Computer Webcam Home Computer Feeder Lonely Dog

Show Video http: //www. media. mit. edu/~benres/rover@home. avi

Asymmetrical Interfaces • Dog gets clicker sound, owner’s voice, food treats • Human gets visual feedback, symbolic information • Computer mediates between the two

Rover@Home Challenges • Bandwidth – Video requires high bandwidth – Toys with sensors provide low-bandwidth info • Latency – Timing essential to clicker training – Let computer evaluate trick performance – Owner still controls overall direction of training session

This man is interacting with his dog* * Using his web-enabled cellphone

Parting Thoughts • Obvious: – Safety: Seat belt / airbags for pets – Cleanup: rollup pet seat covers • Ask Yourselves: – Why not treat the dog as a passenger, not cargo? – How do pets experience cars? – Why do cats hate cars? • For Example: – Retractable food & water bowls

The End Ben Resner benres@media. mit. edu http: //www. media. mit. edu/~benres Rover@home poster in MAIN area