Web Project Goes to the Dogs
From: Halifax Herald - 02/06/2007

Acadia University computer expert Andre Trudel is able to use his computer to
check on his 10-year-old English springer spaniel Twist. With the help of
Danny Silver, a computer interface specialist at Acadia, and computer science
master's student Fung Hu, Trudel has developed a computer and dog interface
program that makes use of an automatic dog feeder, a ball-throwing device,
stereo speakers, and a computer video camera. Trudel is able to watch Twist,
and press various commands in his voice such as come, sit, stay, and "good
girl." He can also press a button to activate the ball thrower, and when the
well-trained Twist retrieves the ball and drops it into the throwing machine,
he can press another button to release food as a reward. Trudel says
producing a level of fidelity that would allow Twist to recognize his voice
has been a challenge of the Human Computer Dog Interface project. He believes
there is a commercial opportunity in allowing people to play with and feed
their dogs from anywhere in the world, using a computer with an Internet
connection. Trudel is seeking a research grant so he can continue to develop
the program. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.herald.ns.ca/NovaScotia/557352.html

Links:
Andre Trudel
http://pheasant.acadiau.ca/

A virtual scratch behind the ears
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/01/29/dog-computer.html?ref=rss