TOMY Co has launched a new version of its "Bowlingual voice" device, which the company says "translates" dog emotions. The wireless microphone device, which fits on a dog's collar, transmits the animal's sound to a handheld consul which analyzes and "translates" into six emotional categories. The device then emits a common phrase matching the dog's emotional state, both in words and voices.
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tokyotom
i have one at home on my wife translates "yes dear", "I am sorry", "right away", then repeats at random works well
Mark_McCracken
How is this new version different from the one made 7 years ago?
NeoJamal
It's got a LCD panel
roomtemperature
"It's got a LCD panel"
Wrong! The old version had an LCD display as well. The difference with the new version is that it shows emoticons AND text.
Mark_McCracken
I noticed the new version does not have a visible antenna, like the original.
http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/tra_bow.html
Disillusioned
They should make one of these for all the gaijin that can't speak Japanese. It could translate emotions like, sarcasm, ridicule and disgust.
roomtemperature
So, Disillusioned, that would be good news for you then.
soldave
Disillusioned - Doubt that will happen. Dogs are on a much higher social rung of the ladder than foreigners ever will be (Billy Blanks and Boyz II Men a current exception).
Disillusioned
Ha, ha! It's odd how some people take themselves so seriously. My point is, these are emotional reactions that are not understood by Japanese.
dr_jones
Wow what an ugly dog!
moonbeams
Yes they are, when performed properly.
nandakandamanda
Brilliant work. So when the dog snarls, the display says 'grrrrr'. When it pants, the display says "I would like a glass of water." When it yelps, the screen says, "I think you just stepped on my tail/paw!" When it yawns, ... hey, I think I am beginning to get the idea! Yay!
mrhog123
Can you use this device to pick up stray women? LOL
M51T
Woof off!
cleo
If you need this toy to tell you what your dog is thinking, you're a failure as a dog-owner. Instead of wasting money on this, invest in a packet of doggy treats and a Kong instead.
nanda -
You know that when a dog yawns, it's not necessarily sleepy or tired? Dogs also yawn as an indication that they are uncomfortable with the situation and want things to calm down.
Only if they're dogs. :-)
nandakandamanda
Cleo, thanks for that. It makes sense.
(Actually I believe this device is better than the article makes out.)
Noripinhead
This device really works. In the photo, the dog is saying, "Get this friggin thing off my neck."
cleo
Granted it can be hard to tell from a photo, but the body language of that puudle don't look nothing like the facial expression on that toy.
SiouxGirl
Someone has too much time on his/her hands
NuckinFutz
Any chance of inventing something like this I can hang around a wife's neck to translate random nagging into something more intelligent?
Beerplease
"Help! I'm choking to death!"
societymike
so basically you should be seeing...
"im hungry" "im hungry" "im hungry" "I wanna play" "im hungry" "im tired" "im hungry" "im hungry" "i wanna play"
and repeat...
Sarge
societymike - Dogs have a much wider range of thoughts. For example, "I'm thirsty," "I have an itch," and "I wanna screw that pooch!"
Sarge
Also, "I gotta pee," and "I gotta take a crap."
usaexpat
And how exactly would you know if this thing was giving you an accurate translation?
nandakandamanda
usaexpat, I think it measures the angle of dangle.
gogogo
Can you sue the maker if a dog bites you when it shows it was happy?
ptolemy
Cleo- I agree, that poodle seems to be thinking, "If they point that at me once more I am on their throat like white on rice."
Andrew Decena
Also, "your hand tastes good"