A gadget that analyses a dog鈥檚 whines and growls and translates them into words will be launched next year.
The 鈥淏ow-lingual鈥�, developed by Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Co. Ltd, consists of a six-centimetre dog collar microphone that transmits sounds to a palm-sized console. The console uses 200 different words, including 鈥渇un鈥�, 鈥渂oring鈥� and 鈥渉appy鈥�, to translate six basic dog 鈥渆motions鈥� in real time.
A series of similar words automatically produces sentences such as 鈥淧lease, please, if you don鈥檛 listen to me, I鈥檒l sulk.鈥�
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The device can also be set to 鈥淒og Diary鈥� mode to record and analyse a whole day of emotions. An owner returning home from work could be greeted with: 鈥淚 had a relaxed day today, peaceful鈥�. Or even 鈥淟ots of enjoyable things happened! A mega-happy day!鈥�
The system sounds viable, says Roger Mugford, a dog psychiatrist based in Surrey. 鈥淭here are common elements to the speech of every dog,鈥� he said. However, he added that dog-owners should not need computers to interpret their pets鈥� desires.
David Cavill, publisher of UK magazine Dogs Monthly is more sceptical. 鈥淎 dog will indicate it wants to play with you by coming up to you and wagging its tail. I鈥檓 very sceptical that you could associate the sound they make at that time with wanting to play in particular.鈥�
The Bow-lingual will cost 12,800 yen (about 拢60), and will go on sale in Japan in February 2002.
Takara told Reuters it plans to upgrade the device in the future so it can transmit its translations to mobile phones.