Sit, beg, roll over… send a text

Dog owners may soon be able to train their pets to send text messages, as well as sit, beg and roll over.

Researchers in America have built a tablet with a touchscreen especially designed for dogs’ noses. By touching it, the dog can send an emergency message saying that their owner needs medical help.

It’s been developed by researchers working on a project named FIDO (‘Facilitating Interactions for Dogs with Occupations’), part of Georgia Institute of Technology.

They have trained dogs to approach a large Tv-sized touchscreen and use their nose to dial 911 (the US equivalent of 999) when their owner collapses, or when they hear the word ‘help’. The touchscreen displays ‘911’ in blue and yellow, colours that dogs can see (pictured above). Dr Melody Jackson (below left), director of the animal-computer interaction lab at Georgia Tech, called the technology “a life-saver”. She added that specially trained assistance dogs, as well as regular household pets, would be able to use the touchscreen. Her team will continue to test what size the buttons should be, and what hardware makes it easiest for dogs to use. They have also made a vest for dogs that sends messages and GPS co-ordinates when the animal pulls at or bites it.

By biting a chewable toy, or tugging a rope, the dog activates sensors that can tell emergency services where it is. This can be useful if its owner has collapsed outside.

Both technologies are prototypes, but Dr Jackson hopes they’ll be soon available commercially.