The blue push pad allows furry pets to see it clearly
Meet the Dogosophy Button, a wireless button that lets you dogs to control and turn the house on and off devices alone. The idea was developed at the Open University’s Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory, led by Professor Clara Mancini. The goal was not to teach dogs human habits, but to redesign the technology so device suits the body, senses and way of thinking of dogs. Its design starts with how dogs see and move.
Dogs see colors differently than humans, and blue is one of the colors they can recognize most clearly. For this reason, the button has a blue pad, but the rest of the housing is white, which helps the button stand out against walls, floors or furniture. The shape of the button is slightly curved and raised so dogs can press it from multiple angles without needing precise aim.
all images and videos courtesy of Dogosophy Button
The wireless button for dogs connects to household devices
The outer shell of the wireless dog and home button is made of plastic, tough enough to handle repeated poking from paws or noses. The push pad has a light texture, which helps dogs grip it without slipping. Inside the button is a small light that flashes when the button is pressed. It’s also gentle, so it doesn’t hurt the dogs’ eyes, but it clearly shows that the nudge worked. Each set includes a button, a receiver and simple connections, and the receiver is connected to a household appliance such as a light bulb, fan or kettle. When the dog presses the button, the signal travels through the air to the receiver, which then turns the device on or off.
The button can be operated from a distance of up to 40 meters, so it can be placed where the dog can easily reach it. This wireless button that connects to devices is especially useful for assistance dogs, who are trained to help disabled people by turning on lights, cooling a room with a fan, or assisting with daily routines. THE device it responds to both gentle nose pokes and stronger paw presses, and for companion dogs, it allows for training that can allow them to turn the devices on and off. THE researchers say they’ve worked with charities and animal trainers to understand what dogs need and can do comfortably before coming up with the wireless button design. That way, technology adapts to them instead of the other way around.
video showing how the button works
dogs simply push the device using their nose or paw
the receiver is connected to a home appliance
Each set includes a button, a receiver and simple fixings
when the dog presses the button, the signal travels through the air to the receiver
project information:
name: Dogosophy button
institution: The Open University | @theopenuniversity
head of research: Professor Clara Mancini
