Doggy Internet · Design Fiction

Zack

As the explosion of the internet and a multitude of devices have allowed for humans to be constantly connected, we speculate that the evolution from human–machine to human–human mediated via machine will happen with non-human animals. We explore what dog-to-dog technology-mediated interactions and communication might look like.

In a co-design session based on dialogue-labs with 11 human and one dog participants, we present six design fictions for dog-to-dog interactions. This work adds new understandings in the co-design of computer interactions that allow non-human animals to connect to each other.

Prototype: DogPhone

An increasing number of systems are emerging that allow animal owners to remotely video-call their companion animals when left home alone for long periods. Yet animals in our homes have no control over these systems, which are not being designed or built for them as users.

We designed, iteratively prototyped, and evaluated DogPhone, a video call device that facilitates a dog video calling their human when and wherever they choose. Our process gives insight into how to develop systems with dogs by integrating them in the early stages of the design process through prototyping, and looks at how to facilitate dogs controlling technology themselves.