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INDULGING DOGS WITH A NEW TREAT
By Victoria Wancel
Talking to dogs may appear normal now.
Takara Co. Ltd. in Tokyo created a product called Bowlingual that translates dog barks into human language.
The gadget comprises an eight-centimeter microphone attached to a dog collar, and transmits sounds to a palm-sized console held by the dog's master.
It is equipped with a small display, which immediately sorts the sounds into six emotional categories that include frustration, menace, joy, sorrow, demand, and self-expression.
Time magazine has hailed the device one of the best inventions of 2002.
Donna DeStefano, Verizon technician and dog owner, said she definitely is interested in Bowlingual for her dogs.
“I love my dogs,” said DeStefano. “I think I can fulfill my dogs’ needs better if I can understand how they feel by what they say through Bowlingual.”
The small display shows phrases that fit the emotional state of the dog such as, "I am sad,” “I want to play,” “I am super angry,” and “I am going to explode!"
However, Claude Vesnaver, Home Business System sales technician, said it is obvious how a dog feels by they way they act.
“It is quite apparent when a dog is hungry, tired, or angry by the way they act,” said Vesnaver. “If Bowlingual were to be of any use, it would be of use to the blind.”
The U.S. is home to about 67 million dogs, more than six times the number in Japan.
Bowlingual was first revealed in August and was a popular when it went on sale in Japan in late September.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Japan’s domestic shipments of Bowlingual have topped 30,000 with the company aiming for 300,000 in sales by next March.
Kerry Sullivan, junior at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said if Bowlingual were to become a trend, it would be among dog owners who truly obsess over their dogs.
“I can imagine obsessive dog owners buying this product,” said Sullivan. “Being a dog owner myself, I refuse to pay over a hundred dollars to listen to a device that tells me what my dog is feeling.”
Bowlingual also gives brief canine health tips and helps pet owners keep track of their dogs' medical and immunization records.
Bowlingual is compatible with more than 50 dog species, ranging from chihuahuas to German shepherds.
According to Cable News Network (CNN), Bowlingual will be sold in U.S. pet stores, gift shops, and retail outlets this summer for $120.