‘Pet translator,’ to convert dog barks to human language in 10 years?

Yes, you read it right. In order to further engage man and his best friend dog, scientists are upto developing a device which will enable owners of dogs to understand the language of their pets.

Animal behavior expert, Professor Con Slobodchikoff hopes to do away with the existing communication gap between owners and dogs in less than a decade time.  

The translator will work on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that will sense and read, the vocalizations and facial expression of the animal and convert them to simple English.

Dr. Con Slobodchikoff is a professor at Northern Arizona University and has spent more than three decades in studying prairie dogs and the way they communicate.

In order to pursue this, professor Slobodchikoff has observed and spent more than three decades in watching video footages of various instances of dog behaviour, like barking, growling and howling.

The AI will be based on vocal algorithms that will be recorded and designed in due course of time.  

Professor Slobodchikoff who is author of 'Chasing Doctor Dolittle: Learning the Language of Animals, is of the view that when this technology can be used to study communications of prairie dog then it can be replicated in normal dogs as well. 

In the past, we have seen the likes of Anna Breytenbach, the renowned interspecies communicator and animal conservationist, whose short clip in the documentary on the black leopard, ‘Diabolo’, at the Jukani Predator Park in South Africa on YouTube and went viral with over 4.5 million views.