Researched in the US, the harness called wearable tech is fitted with sensors that check and examine both a dog’s posture and its vital signs which can pass all the crucial details to the downer of the dog. It also has vibrating motors so owners can communicate with a dog even if it is at a distant location.It is believed that harness could help with the training and also enhance the behavior of dogs.
Stress test
The harness was fitted with motion detectors to help interpret a dog’s body language – their primary means of communication, said Dr David Roberts, an assistant professor of computer science at the North Carolina State University, who helped develop the prototype.
“We can determine when they’re sitting, standing, running, even when they’re out of sight,” he said in a statement. More subtle information about a dog’s well being is also gathered via heart-rate and body-temperature sensors. These can alert people if a dog is stressed or excited.
“We’re reliant on the physiological and behavioral sensors to give us a picture of the dog’s mental and emotional state,” said Sean Mealin, a PhD student at NC State, who has also worked on the project.
“This can help handlers identify and mitigate stress for the dogs,” said Mr Mealin. “It’s an important issue. Particularly because guide dogs are bred and trained not to display signs of stress in their behaviour.”
In addition, handlers can add another layer to the way they communicate with a dog, by making motors on the harness nudge a dog to reinforce a spoken command or prompt a dog to take action if it is a long way away.
Finally, the wearable tech can be augmented with a variety of other devices, such as microphones, cameras and environmental sensors that can gather data, as from dogs being used in disaster zones.
The inventors and developers of the harness are now working on a miniaturized version and enhancing its sensors, so they can be used in places like animal shelters and also the hospitals to examine the health and well-being of animals in improving their overall care and also speedy recovery in case of an ailment.
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