Successful Application of Video‐Projected Human Images for Signalling to Dogs

Abstract

Dogs were tested (1) in a two‐way choice experiment, where the experimenter indicated a baited bowl by pointing; and (2) in a task where the owner was asked to command the dog to execute simple obedience tasks. In expt 1 dogs (n = 10) were tested at first in the presence of the experimenter (three dimensional condition, 3D), that was followed by a series of pointing trials when the life‐sized image of the experimenter was projected onto the wall by the means of a video‐projector (two dimensional condition, 2D). Dogs performed correctly more often than expected by chance in both 3D and 2D conditions. In expt 2 the commanding owner was either present in the room (3D), or her/his image was projected on the screen (2D), or only her/his voice was audible for the dog through a speaker (0D). The performance of the dogs (n = 10) decreased to great extent comparing the 3D and 0D condition, as the number of different actions the dogs obeyed was significantly less in the 0D condition. However, there was no difference in the number of different actions obeyed in the 3D and 2D conditions. Our results show that dogs readily obey life‐sized, interactive moving image in various communicative situtations. We suppose that the difference between 2D and 3D conditions can be attributed partially to the lack of some additional communicative signals as sounds (verbal cues) and odours (from the human), and to some changes in the context.

Picture object recognition in an American black bear (Ursus americanus)

“…Lion-tailed macaques will choose photographs of preferred foods to receive that food (Judge et al 2012). Dogs can follow human commands presented through video projection (Pongrácz et al 2003), and many animals, including fish, reptiles, birds, sheep and non-human primates, show appropriate behaviors in response to pictures (Bovet and Vauclair 2000). However, due to differences in visual abilities (e.g., acuity, color vision, depth perception) and attention to sensory modalities (e.g., visual, including color, shape, and movement, smell, touch, and sound) in even closely related species, it is important to establish recognition in any species that responds to pictures as part of a cognitive test.…”

Sensing sociality in dogs: what may make an interactive robot social?

“…Previous studies investigating the importance of human-likeness of the signaller showed that a socially interactive projected image of a human signaller can be a viable alternative in experimental work with dogs (Pongrácz et al 2003).…”

Factors affecting response of dogs to obedience instruction: A field and experimental study

“…For example, Fukuzawa et al (2005aFukuzawa et al ( , 2005b found that a dog's obedience could decrease if a command was given by a handler wearing sunglasses, changing posture, visibility or at varying distance from the dog. Pongracz et al (2003) found that dogs are less likely to follow verbal commands alone (i.e. with no visual information) than verbal signs combined with visual signs.…”

“…Several studies have examined the importance of variations within specific modalities on dogs' responses; for example the effect of nonverbal variations in a command on the obedience of dogs (Fukuzawa et al, 2005a, Fukuzawa et al, 2005b, McConnell and Bayliss, 1985, McConnell, 1990, Pongracz et al, 2003, or the influence of giving a dog visual communicative signals (Miklosi et al, 2000, Miklosi et al, 2005 or a choice of visual and/or olfactory information (Szetei et al, 2003). These studies illustrate the importance dogs give information from different modalities.…”