[nagdu] Computerized Vest Helps Dogs TalkFW: [Gduf-l]Computerized vest help dogs to talk

Tue Jul 30 16:44:49 UTC 2013

I see how this could be helpful with certain kinds of service dogs. My friend with cerebral palsey could probably use something like this, or my deaf friends could use this. I think there are certain situations where we as guide dog handlers could use this too. I'm not saying yes or no, or yes I'd want one or no I wouldn't, I'm just saying that this is certainly interesting and I wonder where this will go.
Laurel and Stockard
On Jul 30, 2013, at 7:27 AM, Julie J. wrote:

> I think most of the information I'd want, is stuff the dog wouldn't be able to tell me.  I don't need to know so much about obstacles we are going around as I'd like to know what shops we are passing.  There are GPS solutions that can do this, so I see no need for a talking dog.
> 
> Honestly he'd probably only tell me things like, "That's a bad idea."  and "I told you so." and "Really?  Are you serious?"
> I just don't think I want to hear it! LOL
> 
> Julie
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 7:18 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Computerized Vest Helps Dogs TalkFW: [Gduf-l]Computerized vest help dogs to talk
> 
> I'm with Minh and Julie M.  My dog has plenty to do without telling me about
> every obstacle he's walked around.  If I wanted all that info, I'd use a
> cane.
> The only thing Ben would need to say is "Listen to me, stupid human!"
> Tracy
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 8:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Computerized Vest Helps Dogs TalkFW: [Gduf-l]
> Computerized vest help dogs to talk
> 
> 
>> Let's take it even further...  Someone pets my dog, and the voice says
>> something like "You aren't supposed to pet me...  Five seconds until I
>> bite."  Of course, then the vest would have to distinguish between the
>> handeler petting and strangers, but I can dream.
>> 
>> I have to agree with Min here.  I don't want to walk around campus
>> hearing "tree" "car" or "person!"  That would be too much.
>> 
>> On 7/29/13, minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> It sounds like a cool piece of technology, but it's just going to be
>>> another piece of equipment that we have to carry around that
>>> distinguishes us from the rest of the world. Furthermore, it's not
>>> really practical; I don't want to be walking down the street and
>>> having this voice announce to me what's in front of me every ten feet
>>> or so. After all, we were taught techniques during training so we can
>>> identify what is in front of us. If the dog stops, just reach out and
>>> you'll find out what's blocking your way. ...
>>> 
>>> On 7/29/13, Star Gazer <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> This reminds me of that book, I think called Congo where the monkey could
>>>> use sign language. The movie version had her using a computer. Very
>>>> interesting and a bit disturbing.
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Jarvis
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 11:47 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Computerized Vest Helps Dogs TalkFW: [Gduf-l]
>>>> Computerized vest help dogs to talk
>>>> 
>>>> Cindy,
>>>> 
>>>> Oh, let's program it to do that! /lol/ I'm glad somebody else goes
>>>> instantly
>>>> to the, er, more creative uses for such a tool. /grin/
>>>> 
>>>> If I let Mitzi do her own programming and choose what the vest should say
>>>> to
>>>> me, I'm pretty sure none of it would be flattering. There would be a flip
>>>> off in there somewhere.
>>>> 
>>>> I also can't help wondering if we would finally find out the truth. Can
>>>> dogs
>>>> lie, after all? /lol/
>>>> 
>>>> It is kinda fun to think about how to train the dog to use the vest
>>>> meaningfully. I have a glimmer of how training would go up to a certain
>>>> point using clicker training... But then I wonder. So I train the dog to
>>>> respond to a tree by pressing the button for tree. So far so good. Then I
>>>> go
>>>> for a nice shady walk.... Will I be hearing "Tree! Tree! Tree!"
>>>> every other step? How annoying would that be? /lol/
>>>> 
>>>> It is an interesting concept, and I can think of scenarios where added
>>>> feedback about what stuff is would be truly useful. But mostly I want to
>>>> get
>>>> one to play with it and my dog and see what happens. /lol/
>>>> 
>>>> Tami
>>>> 
>>>> On 07/29/2013 04:11 AM, Cindy Ray wrote:
>>>>> I want one of these, and when people say, "Hi, Doggie!" or "Hello,
>>>>> puppy!"
>>>> I want the dog to say, "Well, hello." I've always thought something like
>>>> that would be so fun because it would totally freak out the person who
>>>> spoke
>>>> to the dog. Yes?
>>>>> 
>>>>> CL
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 29, 2013, at 5:38 AM, "Steven Johnson" <blinddog3 at charter.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Computerized Vest Helps Dogs Talk
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Imagine you are working your guide dog and it stops, telling you the
>>>>>> path before you is blocked. If you are a blind handler, you will know
>>>>>> the dog won't go forward even if you tell it to because it uses
>>>>>> intelligent disobedience to avoid the obstacle. Even as you trust
>>>>>> your dog and proceed to go around the obstacle, you may not know what
>>>>>> is in front of you blocking the way. Instead of being led around the
>>>>>> unknown obstacle, and perhaps not ever realizing what it could be,
>>>>>> you are told by the dog via a computerized voice or text that it is wet
>>>> cement. Pretty cool, huh?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Say hello to a computerized prototype vest for dogs named
>>>>>> "Facilitating Interactions for Dogs with Occupations", a.k.a. FIDO
>>>>>> that is meant to help handlers communicate with their service dogs.
>>>>>> According to recent news articles, the device looks like a typical
>>>>>> service dog vest that hugs the canine's shoulders and back, fastening
>>>>>> under the dog's belly. The FIDO model has a compact computer with a
>>>>>> microprocessor that sits between the dog's shoulder blades with
>>>>>> several distinctly shaped items which can be pulled or pushed by the
>>>>>> dog. Dogs can alert the handler to things like a tornado siren or
>>>>>> alarm, alerting the handler to the danger or obstacle with just a tug
>>>>>> on
>>>> a string or push of the nose on a button.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Researchers at Georgia Tech are working on the prototype vest to do
>>>>>> the very thing described above and much more. Since dogs can
>>>>>> understand about 700 words to convey what they see, smell or hear
>>>>>> around them, fine tuning the technology that enables us and the dog
>>>>>> to communicate better is only a tail wag away from becoming a reality.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> This is all possible with a mini computer and a receiver, like Google
>>>>>> glass or an ear bud to either hear or see the information the dog
>>>>>> chooses to convey. For instance, the dog can tug on a toy that
>>>>>> represents the information, like stairs or a curb, which is sent via
>>>>>> a microcomputer to the handler.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The alert system will depend on the dog owner's needs, though
>>>>>> researchers are still fine-tuning exactly how the owner will be
>>>>>> alerted to what the dog sees, hears, or smells. Potentially any dog
>>>>>> that works with its handler will be able to utilize the vest. This is
>>>>>> especially encouraging for explosive detection and search and rescue
>>>>>> dogs as well as dogs teamed up with people with disabilities.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> The funding for this research is being paid for by a recent grant
>>>>>> from Google Glass team to the Georgia Institute of Technology.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Professor Melody Jackson from the Georgia Institute of Technology
>>>>>> came up with this idea after discovering that one of her students
>>>>>> worked with a guide dog and wanted a better way to find out about the
>>>>>> obstacles the dog avoided.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> To read the article, go to:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Responsible-Tech/2013/0716/FIDO-H
>>>>>> ow-a-co
>>>>>> mputer-vest-can-help-dogs-talk
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Or, go here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421792,00.asp
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> om
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> om
>>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
>>> recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
>>> but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
>>> their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Julie McG
>> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
>> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
>> Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
>> and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>> 
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> 
> 
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