Lesson Overview
Featured Article: “Hoping for a Dog Phone? You May Have a Long Wait.” by Christine Chung
A scientist in Scotland created and tested a device that allowed her dog to make video calls. While the dog generally only made calls by accident, the study has raised questions about animal communication through technology.
In this lesson, you will learn about how the “DogPhone” was created, and some of the questions that other researchers have about the study and its implications. Then you will design your own pet tech device and a related experiment.
Warm-Up
Watch this two-minute video in which Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, an assistant professor at the University of Glasgow, describes a new device she created for her dog. After you’re done, answer the questions below.
Why did Dr. Hirskyj-Douglas create this device? What questions was she hoping to answer?
How does the DogPhone operate? What did Dr. Hirskyj-Douglas learn from her experiment?
What would you like to ask Dr. Hirskyj-Douglas about her experiment and results?
Questions for Writing and Discussion
Read the article, and then answer the following questions:
1. How did Dr. Hirskyj-Douglas set up a way for her dog to communicate with her?
2. According to the results of the 16-day study, how did Zack, Dr. Hirskyj-Douglas’s Labrador retriever, interact with the DogPhone?
3. Why was her study of the phone inconclusive?
4. Why was Dr. Patricia McConnell, a leading animal behaviorist, skeptical of the study? What does she think could have made it a better experiment? What do you think?
5. What questions did the study raise about our ability to understand a dog’s intentions? How would you answer these questions? Do you think it’s possible to know if a dog, or other animal, desires connection and communication with a human?
6. How has the pet tech market grown in recent years? Given the lack of research about these devices, what concerns do some researchers and veterinarians have about these products?
7. What do you think about the DogPhone? Do you think the idea behind it is promising? Do you think pet owners would want to purchase one if it ever came to market?
Going Further
Learn more about another pet technology device, such as cameras, movement trackers or even treadmills. After reading further, answer the following questions:
What is the purpose of the device and how does it function?
What do you think could be interesting or helpful about the device?
What questions or concerns do you have about the device?
Next, design your own pet tech device. First, decide what problem or issue you want your device to address. Then, think of how a new device might be able to address that issue. Once you have a design idea, set up an experiment to determine whether your device is effective. You can use this “laboratory experiment” worksheet to add details about the materials, setup and procedure you’ll use.
Finally, share your design idea and the results of your experiment with your classmates. What feedback do they have about your design? What do you notice and wonder about their designs?
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