What if a puppy made a FaceTime call? Technology that animals choose for themselves - ACI
Like many who cherish their pets as family members, I have a strong desire to ensure their lives are perfectly cared for. We often decide what they will eat, when they will take a walk, and even which friends they will meet. We call this 'love.' But after watching this talk, I found myself questioning if our love is socially isolating them. Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas's TEDxManchester talk offers a new perspective through the lens of technology on this uncomfortable question. It speaks about Pet Tech not merely as a tool for 'caring' for animals but as an interface that returns 'choice' to them, in the realm of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI).
Table of Contents
Control in the Name of Love
When Animals Choose Screens
Why a Parrot Prefers 'Live'
Beyond Pet Tech: Towards 'Inter-Species Empowerment'
Control Under the Name of Love
We all want to give our pets the best life possible.
When we leave the house, pets are left alone. We stay connected to the world through our smartphones, but they wait for our return. Humans control much of their pets' lives, including meals, walks, and even who they meet. However, Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas suggests that technology could flip this familiar script.
Her key question is: “What if animals could use the internet?” This goes beyond mere curiosity. It signifies a grand shift in perspective, viewing animals as active users rather than passive subjects of care. It's a proposal to return choice and control to animals through technology.
When Animals Choose Their Own Screens
There existed their own 'favorite' content that we never imagined.
The first step began with a small device for a dog named 'Jack'. While the owners were away, Jack was able to select and watch videos by himself. Surprisingly, dogs used this technology without any special training, suggesting an innate motivation for animals to interact with technology.
The research extended to zoos, where white-faced saki monkeys were given tunnels to choose videos and audio. Here is where our human-centric bias is revealed. Surprisingly, the monkeys preferred videos of jellyfish or noisy traffic sounds over calm nature scenes. How unaware were we of animals' preferences? This technology went beyond just media consumption. When monkeys were given choices, stress behaviors like scratching noticeably decreased.
Why Parrots Prefer 'Live'
Ultimately, just like us, what mattered to them was 'real connection'.
The ultimate goal of this study went beyond mere entertainment, aiming to solve social isolation issues in animals. This is particularly important for parrots, which are both intelligent and social creatures. The research team developed a system that allowed parrots to make video calls to each other.
The results were astounding. The parrots used the system voluntarily and very actively. They displayed complex social behaviors by singing to their friends on the other side of the screen or showing their toys. The most intriguing finding was that the parrots overwhelmingly preferred real-time live calls to recorded videos. This shows that animals clearly recognize the value of real-time interaction over one-way stimuli. Every caregiver involved in the experiment agreed 100% that the system was a positive experience for their birds University of Glasgow study.
Beyond Pet Tech, Towards 'Inter-Species Empowerment'
Technology acts as a mirror, prompting us to reflect on our perspectives.
Watching this talk, I reconsidered the term 'pet tech'. So far, much of technology has been focused on the 'convenience of caregivers'. Like feeding pets remotely or monitoring them with CCTV. However, ACI shifts the focus of the question. How much does this technology expand 'animal agency'?
Recently in Korea, the culture of treating pets like family, known as 'pet fam', is taking root, and smart home and pet care technologies are rapidly advancing. The perspective of ACI can add a deeper philosophy to this market. It's about designing experiences where they 'make choices and connect themselves' rather than simply playing something to keep them from being lonely. This opens up endless possibilities, such as a hospitalized animal communicating with its caregiver or enhancing social interactions through exchanges between zoos.
All this started from a small idea for a companion dog. Technology is opening a new window into understanding the complex inner world and needs of animals.
"What if we could instead use technology to flip this script?"
— Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
Now it's time to ask ourselves whether we are ready to go beyond using technology 'for animals' and open the door for 'animals to use it directly'.
TL;DR
Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) is a field of study that considers animals as active users of technology. It focuses on designing technologies to help animals control their environment, obtain information, and communicate with others, moving beyond merely tracking or measuring animal behavior. This approach respects animal agency and opens new possibilities for enhancing their mental and social well-being.
The research of Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas suggests viewing animals as active agents of technology through the emerging field of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI).
Recognizing Agency: Dogs, monkeys, and parrots use technology autonomously, such as selecting media or making video calls, without extensive training.
Unpredictable Preferences: Contrary to human expectations, monkeys showed a preference for jellyfish videos or traffic noise, challenging our anthropocentric perspectives.
The Value of Social Connections: Parrots clearly prefer live video calls over recorded videos, engaging in complex social interactions like singing or showing toys.
Enhanced Welfare: Monkeys with media choices showed reduced stress behaviors, and 100% of the parrot caretakers observed positive effects from video calls.
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