Slobodchikoff doesn’t think prairie dogs are the exception to the communication rule but instead expects that many animals have equally complex language-like communication of their own. If a computer can translate prairie dog sounds, there’s no reason a similar program can’t be used for other animals. The computer can even reverse the direction and create calls in the prairie dog language. That has allowed Slobodchikoff, along with computer scientists, to develop an algorithm that can translate the alarm calls into English words. What sounds like a quick chirp to a human actually says far more to a fellow prairie dog, such as, “fast-moving, yellow, rectangular-shaped coyote.”Įach type of alarm call has a very specific context, and a computer can distinguish the different types. There is so much information encoded in these calls, such as size, type, and even color of predator, that Slobodchikoff has labeled it a language. Slobodchikoff has spent three decades studying prairie dog communication and has discovered unexpected and incredible sophistication in their alarm calls. Zoolingua hopes that by developing such cutting-edge technology, it can improve the relationship we have with our dogs. Imagine pointing your cell phone at your dog and having it translate your dog’s sounds and body language into English words and your words into woofs. Although that seems like a childhood fantasy, thanks to rigorous scientific research and advanced technology that might become a reality within the next two years.īiologist Con Slobodchikoff, an expert in animal communication and the author of “Chasing Doctor Doolittle: Learning the Language of Animals,” is the founder of Zoolingua, a company that wants to help us talk to our pets. Obviously, dogs will be the first animals we would want to speak with since they are such good pals.When you were growing up, did you ever wish you could talk to your dog? So many children dream of being a real-life Doctor Doolittle, interpreting their pet’s woofs and growls and being able to bark back. It would be cool if we could all channel our inner Eliza Thornberry and actually speak with all these animals. The tools we develop can work across all of biology, from worms to whales." We also know that some pet owners like having bugs or snakes.Īza Raskin, the founder of the California firm Earth Species Project, had this to say: "We're species agnostic. That makes sense since not everyone is a dog lover they might prefer horrifically mean beings like cats and that’s just fine. Read More: US Space Force sends Robot Dogs to patrol space base First, your dog, then, your cat?įemale First reports that a dog translator might just be the first step, as there are plans to communicate with other animals. Still, you know that dog lovers will immediately go for these tech items the moment that they become available. Progress still has to be made for this fantasy to come true, as no release dates for these dog communication devices have been announced. Obviously, that’s not as handy as having a mobile app but this still beats wondering what’s wrong with our dog before going to the vet. But this isn’t the only product aimed at translating pet-speak.Īnother set of scientists in South Korea is hoping to make an AI-powered collar that can analyze the barks made by dogs and tell us their emotional states. This sounds like a fairly ideal way to communicate with our canine companions, especially since we’re always using our phones. One set of scientists is working on a mobile app with Zoolingua that will translate the body language and barks of these canines into English. It looks like there are a lot of scientists who really want to use a dog translator on their fur babies.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |