Dog Bark Translator, A Decade Later

This is from the Mirror, so take it with a heavy dose of grainosaltium, but check it out anyhow:

Scientists are busy working on a “pet translator” that could finally let owners communicate with their dogs and cats.

Using artificial intelligence to analyse vocalisations and facial expressions, the researchers from Northern Arizona University believe they’ll have the tech ready in under a decade.

…

The ultimate goal is to create a gadget that can translate what your dog wants – so “woof woof” becomes “I want to go for a walk”.

Of course Pupster wrote a similar post almost exactly 10 years ago, where Hungarian scientists were claiming the same thing. Pupster’s vision of how it might work went like this:

Hopefully this time it’s for real, but honestly, I really want the reverse translator. Just a few phrases would do:

“It’s just the mailman!!”

“It’s too cold for a walk!”

“It’s not dinnertime yet!”

“You don’t get a treat if you don’t actually pee before bedtime! Wandering around the yard sniffing doesn’t count! No, don’t look at me like that – we had a deal. Yeah, a deal. Do not look at me like that!”