This Canine Vest Helps Owners Command Dogs via Vibrational Cues
Michael Hemsworth — July 11, 2019 — Lifestyle
References: in.bgu.ac.il & newatlas
This canine vest has been developed as a prototype solution that aims to help with the commanding of service dogs by harnessing the power of vibrational cues.
Developed by a team of researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, the vest works by being integrated into training protocols and associating vibrations with specific commands. This would enable handlers to give the dog a command when it is out of earshot or sight by sending it wirelessly to the canine via remote control.
The canine vest was explained further by director of the university's Robotics Laboratory professor Amir Shapiro who said, "Our research results showed that dogs responded to these vibrotactile cues as well or even better than vocal commands. Our current proof-of-concept study shows promising results that open the way toward the use of haptics for human-canine communication."
Image Credit: Jonathan Atari
Developed by a team of researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, the vest works by being integrated into training protocols and associating vibrations with specific commands. This would enable handlers to give the dog a command when it is out of earshot or sight by sending it wirelessly to the canine via remote control.
The canine vest was explained further by director of the university's Robotics Laboratory professor Amir Shapiro who said, "Our research results showed that dogs responded to these vibrotactile cues as well or even better than vocal commands. Our current proof-of-concept study shows promising results that open the way toward the use of haptics for human-canine communication."
Image Credit: Jonathan Atari
Trend Themes
1. Haptic Communication for Dogs - The development of haptic communication technology for dogs has opened up new opportunities for training, care and remote commanding.
2. Wearable Technologies for Service Animals - The vibrating service dog vest represents a growing trend of wearables and IoT devices designed specifically for service animals.
3. Wireless Dog Training - Advancements in wireless technology have made it possible to train and control service dogs remotely, providing greater flexibility and accessibility.
Industry Implications
1. Pet Care - Pet care providers can explore the use of haptic communication technology and wearable devices to enhance the training and care of pets.
2. Assistive Technology - The development of vibrating service dog vests points to the potential for haptic communication technology to improve the performance of assistive animals and their handlers.
3. Wireless Technology - Wireless technology companies can capitalize on the opportunity to develop devices that enable remote communication and control of service animals.
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