Computer systems for primates to listen to audio have been researched for a long time. However, there is a lack of investigations into what kind of sounds primates would prefer to listen to, how to quantify their preference, and how audio systems and methods can be designed in an animal-focused manner. One pressing question is, if given the choice to control an audio system, would or could primates use such a system. In this study, we design an audio enrichment prototype and method for white-faced sakis that allows them to listen to different sounds in their regular zoo habitat while automatically logging their interactions. Focusing on animal-centred design, this prototype was built from low fidelity testing of different forms within the sakis’ enclosure and gathering requirements from those who care for and view the animal. This process of designing in a participatory manner with the sakis resulted in an interactive system that was shown to be viable, non-invasive, highly interactive, and easy to use in a zoo habitat. Recordings of the sakis’ interactions demonstrated that the sakis triggered traffic audio more than silence, rain sounds, zen, and electronic music. The data and method also highlight the benefit of a longitudinal study within the animals’ own environment to mitigate against the novelty effect and the day-to-day varying rhythm of the animals and the zoo environment. This study builds on animal-centred methods and design paradigms to allow the monitoring of the animals’ behaviours in zoo environments, demonstrating that useful data can be yielded from primate-controlled devices. For the Animal-Computer Interaction community, this is the first audio enrichment system used in zoo contexts within the animals own environment over a long period of time that gives the primate control over their interactions and records this automatically.
How early technology requirements are formed for animals involves asking humans caring for the animal to give requirements for them. For zoo animals, this is the keeper and other experts who work with the animal. This requirement gathering process is used as a method of forming user-centric designs for systems for animals. Yet little attention has been paid towards how to form these early requirements in zoos or whom to gather these from. Addressing this, we investigate how to construct technology requirements for the zoo housed animals, using white-faced saki monkeys as an instance. Utilizing the method of questionnaires, we gather requirements from zoo keepers and zoo visitors. Comparing and analyzing our results, we reveal how requirements for animal-technology in zoo contexts diverge and intersect. Our data indicates that these vantages mostly align; with the zoo visitors focusing upon the aesthetics and keepers concentrating on practicalities. Overarching these, we note how requirements in proxy for animals often involves a synthesis of complex motivations, user narratives, vantage points, and prior technology and animal experience that is irreparably intertwined within the requirement process. This paper builds upon requirement gathering methods for unconventional users.
Over the past decade, many systems have been developed for humans to remotely connect to their pets at home. Yet little attention has been paid to how animals can control such systems and what the implications are of animals using internet systems. This paper explores the creation of a video call device to allow a dog to remotely call their human, giving the animal control and agency over technology in their home. After building and prototyping a novel interaction method over several weeks and iterations, we test our system with a dog and a human. Analysing our experience and data, we reflect on power relations, how to quantify an animal's user experience and what interactive internet systems look like with animal users. This paper builds upon Human-Computer Interaction methods for unconventional users, uncovering key questions that advance the creation of animal-to-human interfaces and animal internet devices.
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