What Happens When Your Dog Uses the Internet | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas | TED

Overview

This talk explores the groundbreaking concept of animals using technology to enhance their autonomy, social connections, and overall well-being. Computer scientist Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas shares her journey of developing devices that allow animals to interact with technology, from dogs controlling TVs to parrots making video calls. The talk delves into how these innovations reveal the complex emotional and social needs of animals, challenging our understanding of their consciousness.

Notable Quotes

- What if we could use technologies to enable animals to have choice over their lives and control, including their social life? – Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, on rethinking the role of technology in animal autonomy.

- The next time you make a video call to a loved one, just remember that a parrot might be doing the same. – Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, on the surprising potential of animal technology.

- Giving animals technology not only gives them a choice and ability to control their lives, but it also gives them something which can impact their well-being and improves their health. – Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, on the transformative effects of tech on animal welfare.

🐾 Rethinking Animal Autonomy Through Technology

- Humans control many aspects of their pets’ lives, from food to social interactions. Technology could shift this dynamic by giving animals more autonomy.

- Early experiments included devices that allowed dogs to interact with screens and control TVs, revealing that animals could engage with technology without training.

- These devices provided enrichment and hinted at animals’ capacity for understanding and choice.

🐒 Zoo Animals and Enrichment Through Tech

- Hirskyj-Douglas expanded her work to zoo animals, such as white-faced saki monkeys, creating devices that played videos and sounds when activated.

- Monkeys showed preferences for specific stimuli, such as underwater scenes and heavy traffic noises, and exhibited reduced stress behaviors like scratching.

- The findings suggest that technology can improve the mental health and well-being of animals in captivity.

📞 Video Calls for Social Animals

- Inspired by the isolation experienced during global lockdowns, Hirskyj-Douglas explored how technology could connect socially inclined animals, like parrots and dogs.

- She developed a ball device that allowed her dog to initiate video calls, which he used frequently, even developing a routine.

- Parrots were taught to use tablets to make video calls to other parrots. They demonstrated preferences for specific friends and engaged in social behaviors like grooming, playing, and singing during calls.

🧠 Understanding Animal Consciousness Through Technology

- Experiments revealed that animals might recognize the difference between live and pre-recorded interactions, suggesting a deeper understanding of the digital world.

- Parrots showed less interest in pre-recorded videos compared to live calls, indicating a preference for real-time social interaction.

- These findings challenge traditional assumptions about animal cognition and social awareness.

🌍 The Future of Animal Technology

- The potential applications of animal technology are vast, from enabling pets to stay connected with their owners during vet visits to fostering social bonds among zoo animals.

- Caregivers reported improved relationships and trust with their animals after using these technologies.

- This research opens up new possibilities for enhancing animal welfare and understanding their emotional and social complexities.