On the Internet, Nobody Knows You're a Dog... Unless You're Another Dog

Abstract

How humans use computers has evolved from humanmachine interfaces to human-human computer mediated communication. Whilst the field of animal-computer interaction has roots in HCI, technology developed in this area currently only supports animal-computer communication. This design fiction paper presents animalanimal connected interfaces, using dogs as an instance. Through a co-design workshop, we created six proposals. The designs focused on what a dog internet could look like and how interactions might be presented. Analysis of the narratives and conceived designs indicated that participants' concerns focused around asymmetries within the interaction. This resulted in the use of objects seen as familiar to dogs. This was conjoined with interest in how to initiate and end interactions, which was often achieved through notification systems. This paper builds upon HCI methods for unconventional users, and applies a design fiction approach to uncover key questions towards the creation of animal-to-animal interfaces. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI).

Exploring How White-Faced Sakis Control Digital Visual Enrichment Systems

“…As this work shows, we need to begin exploring how monkeys wish to interact by allowing them to choose their interactions and freeform their own behaviours and ways of using computer-enabled enrichment devices. While much has been made of the need to expand what interaction means for dogs [ 48 ] and engagement for monkeys [ 7 ], we note that we also need to open-up what we see as animal-computer interaction and how to quantify this. Through developing new methods, such as the one presented here, we can traverse, learn, and uncover how monkeys use visual stimuli of their own volition.…”

“…However, applying these terms of interaction and preference to animals need further expanding. Taking the typical Human-Computer Interaction definition of interaction is not applicable to animals [ 48 ] as it is unknown to what degree an animal can meaningfully interact, and what their intentions and understanding are with computer enabled enrichment technology [ 7 ]. As such, what preferences and the association of liking can be drawn from such an unknown interaction is questionable when it is unknown what goals, interactions, and perceptions the animal user has.…”

“…As such, what preferences and the association of liking can be drawn from such an unknown interaction is questionable when it is unknown what goals, interactions, and perceptions the animal user has. While researchers have investigated usability [ 49 ], preference [ 7 ] and interactions [ 48 , 50 ] with non-human animals with the context of computer devices and interfaces, it is an incomplete science that needs to have leeway for misunderstandings and misconceptions when interpreting a non-human species. In other words, the human idea of computer interaction and preference is not directly comparable to the non-human animal species with computer-enabled systems.…”

Music for Monkeys: Building Methods to Design with White-Faced Sakis for Animal-Driven Audio Enrichment Devices

“…Within ACI literature, there have been many implicit perspectives as well as explicit discussions focused on these challenges. The central perspectives revolve around how to determine whether an animal “likes” or “prefers” a system [ 35 ], how animal-centred methods can support the autonomy of the animals through facilitating animals controlling systems [ 4 ] and how animals can be included in participatory and co-design approaches [ 21 , 46 , 47 ]. In practice, prototyping and designing together with the animal users have been explored and found to be an invaluable tool when developing new animal technologies [ 7 , 48 , 49 ].…”

“…In practice, prototyping and designing together with the animal users have been explored and found to be an invaluable tool when developing new animal technologies [ 7 , 48 , 49 ]. These participatory methods have placed the animals in the roles of co-designers in the design process [ 21 , 47 ], evaluators of systems or interaction methods as a form of participation [ 7 , 19 , 48 ], as well as device users to elicit their interaction requirements and needs [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 50 ].…”