Buzz
The internet has made education, entertainment, and a range of services available to everyone. It’s undeniable that information technology will have a significant impact on the future of humanity. But what if it also influences the furry (and not-so-furry) companions we share our world with? Many animals on Earth are equipped with eyes and ears, which allow them to identify friends, foes, and food in the real world. It’s quite possible that they can also recognize shapes and sounds in the virtual world.
Recent experiments and real-world examples have shown that this is true for a surprising number of species. Numerous animals have had positive interactions with technologies typically enjoyed by humans. Without any particular order, here are ten technologies that animals can appreciate too.
10. Video Calls
Talkative pet parrots can keep their owners company, helping to alleviate loneliness. But parrots themselves can also experience loneliness and boredom when kept in captivity. In the wild, they are social birds that thrive in large flocks. When kept indoors alone, they may suffer from psychological issues and even engage in self-destructive behavior. In 2023, scientists from Northeastern University, the University of Glasgow, and MIT teamed up to explore a potential solution for these distressed parrots.
Parrot owners were taught how to guide their pets in making video calls. Within two weeks, 15 out of 18 parrots successfully learned to initiate a call. Afterward, they were able to call their friends freely while their owners recorded the interactions and took notes. The researchers reviewed over 1,000 hours of footage and were amazed to discover that the parrots understood that their call partners were live and not pre-recorded. The parrots made real friendships, with many repeatedly calling the same individual. Some would sing, play with toys, or show off, while others shared skills like flying and foraging. (LINK 1)
9. Podcasts for Dogs
As of 2023, podcasts have become a part of daily life for nearly everyone. Every interest group and subculture has its own signature voice, and even social animals like dogs can find comfort in listening to them. In fact, a special podcast was created for dogs to help soothe them while their owners are away. This was made possible thanks to Alex Benjamin, a psychologist at the University of York, UK, who helped create the podcast. She also conducted a study titled 'Who’s A Good Boy,' which explored the impact of human voices on dog behavior.
Using the insights from her study, Benjamin assisted in developing 'My Dog’s Favourite Podcast.' The podcast features actors speaking to dogs in calming voices, offering praise and telling stories, accompanied by soft music and ambient sounds. It's intended to relax dogs when they are alone at home and help mask alarming noises like the sound of slamming doors, which might frighten them.
8. AI Robots
Recent advances in AI may provide a solution for pet owners concerned about their dogs. While automatic pet feeders have been around for a while, newer prototypes are incorporating cutting-edge technology. For instance, a YouTube video from April 2023 showcases a product named Companion. Set to launch in 2024, Companion uses AI to feed, communicate with, and even train dogs.
Through a linked smartphone app, owners can view their dog's data and video footage. The company’s website notes that the data collected about dogs’ daily routines and behaviors can help owners receive early alerts about potential health issues. With ongoing discussions about AI replacing jobs, this is one instance where AI could take on a vital task that’s almost unheard of today, as few people can afford to hire someone for it.
7. Podcasts for Cows (Maybe)
It is widely acknowledged that cows are calmed by soft human voices. In scientific studies, human speech is often used to relax them, typically through pre-recorded audio played over speakers to maintain consistency in the experiment. How can we be sure that a cow is relaxed? In addition to physical signs like their ears drooping, scientists have measured a decrease in heart rate after cows listen to gentle human voices. This suggests that cows might appreciate a podcast as well.
However, no one has yet attempted to create a specific 'cow cast.' Perhaps that’s because research has shown that cows prefer live interaction. In one experiment, cows were stroked while listening either to a recording of the stroker’s voice or the stroker speaking directly to them. The cows who heard live speech exhibited lower heart rates, indicating they were more relaxed than those who only heard a recording.
6. Music Streaming
You may think that cats are rarely impressed by human activities, but they actually enjoy music. However, they seem to prefer music that is specifically composed for cats. Even the works of classical composers like Bach and Fauré fail to capture their attention. A study conducted by psychologists at the University of Wisconsin compared specially composed 'cat' music with some classical favorites and found that cats only responded significantly to the music designed for them. The classical music had no noticeable effect on them.
The 'cat' music was composed by David Teie, who collaborated with researchers to create a theoretical framework that matched musical parameters with the frequency range and communication patterns of cats. The researchers' hypothesis was that music should reflect the natural communication methods of the species it aims to affect. The resulting compositions—which feature instrumental versions of cat sounds like purring and meowing—were released as albums and are now available to stream online.
5. TV
In 2018, marine biologists in Florida set out to improve the lives of 16 rescued dolphins by introducing them to a human technology that has likely influenced and enhanced the lives of countless people since its invention in the 20th century—television. This concept has already been applied to other species. For instance, cats are known to enjoy watching potential prey on TV. Just like with music, it seems that most animals prefer to watch things that are related to their natural instincts and behaviors.
Dolphins are unique in their preferences. Like humans, their interest in watching TV can vary significantly. While many dolphins showed clear enjoyment by pressing their heads against the screen, others were less impressed or even seemed frustrated, as indicated by jerking their heads or blowing bubbles. The study confirmed that, like other intelligent mammals such as cats, dogs, and chimpanzees, dolphins respond to moving images. However, unlike some species, dolphins do not need the setting of the show to be underwater.
4. Video Sharing
Many mammals are fascinated by videos, and gorillas are no exception. This was discovered by a visitor to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky in 2017, who shared her experience online. Upon visiting the gorilla enclosure, she saw a woman showing a gorilla videos through the glass and decided to try it herself. She quickly caught the attention of the great ape by showing videos of baby gorillas.
Before long, the gorilla was sitting beside her, enjoying the videos shared through the glass. It appeared to be engaged. If the visitor moved her phone, the gorilla would crane its neck to keep watching. Remarkably, the gorilla seemed to understand that the videos were pre-recorded. When it wanted to see a new video, it raised its arm in a swiping motion.
3. Artificial Limbs
Strangely, this study is one of the oldest in this list. In 2011, researchers trained monkeys to control a virtual arm on a computer screen using only their brainwaves. Two rhesus monkeys were able to manipulate the arm effectively and even sense the texture of objects on the screen thanks to real-time feedback sent directly to their brains. Initially, the monkeys used a joystick to capture objects on a screen, earning fruit juice as a reward. Later, the joystick was replaced with electrodes to pick up the brainwaves of the monkeys.
It took just four attempts for one of the monkeys to master the new setup. The goal of this research was to benefit humans—it showed that an artificial limb could be controlled while simultaneously providing tactile feedback about what it touches, much like a natural limb. However, it also stands as one of the most remarkable examples of animals interacting with technology. As demonstrated by other items in this list, technologies designed for humans may eventually benefit animals as well.
2. Complex Video Games
Even primates with lower intelligence can outperform pigs at video games, but some primates can even outperform humans—specifically young children. This was shown in a 2015 study where four adult chimps were pitted against twelve human children and four adults in a virtual reality maze challenge. Both groups had some time to practice, but the chimps were given less practice as they were already familiar with the joystick setup used at the Language Research Center at Georgia State University.
Overall, the chimps completed the mazes in about the same amount of time as the human children. One 22-year-old chimp even outperformed all the human participants. Experts in primatology note that, unlike pigs but like humans, chimps are curious and have a natural drive to learn more about their environment. With enough time, they could potentially learn to tackle even more complex games.
1. Simple Video Games
In 2021, a study revealed that pigs can play simple video games. They were able to link the movement of a joystick to the movement of virtual objects on a screen, allowing them to intentionally engage with the game. While they didn't play as skillfully as primates, it's remarkable considering pigs lack opposable thumbs and have limited vision. Their ability to play at all is impressive.
The pigs were tasked with using their snouts to nudge the joystick and move an on-screen cursor into a virtual wall. Initially, they were rewarded with food pellets for completing levels, but they continued playing even after the food dispenser malfunctioned. This might have been due to the experimenters' verbal encouragement rather than the pigs' enjoyment or sense of achievement. If the latter, video games could potentially improve the lives of these intelligent animals.
