Posted on 05/12/2002 12:35:32 PM PDT by blam
Gadget lets owners talk 'dog'
A Japanese firm has unveiled a gadget which converts dogs barks into human expressions of emotion.
Toy-maker Takara is marketing the Bowlingual device, which translates growls, barks and yelps into six human feelings.
The hand-held device works like other computerised voice-recognition devices for the human voice.
The dog gadget covers frustration, alarm, self-expression, happiness, sadness and desire.
The Bowlingual matches barks with digital patterns of pre-programmed barks within the device to translate doggy feelings.
Depending on the type of bark, words pop up on the device display such as "I can't stand it" or "How boring".
Pet owners could also hear: "I'm lonely. Please play with me more."
Yoko Watanabe told Sky: "It's offering a way of communicating with a living thing, an animal that's part of our everyday lives."
The device was demonstrated at the Tokyo Toy Show by Sakura, a Welsh Corgi. Bowlingual goes on sale in Japan in August for about £800.
Story filed: 12:14 Saturday 11th May 2002
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