Imagine a World Where Dogs Could Talk

If you’ve ever wished your dog could talk, you may get your wish sooner than you think.

Scandinavian scientists are developing a headset that could allow for your dog to voice his opinion.

"No More Woof" explains on their website that the device is being introduced by the Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery (NSID).

They hope to be able to put together a device that will allow dogs to tell us when they’re hungry and when they want to go out. They are even hoping to advance to two-way communication, what they call their “holy grail.”

The technology uses EEG signals from the dog’s brain and translates them into human language through a speaker (English is the only one that is currently available).

The website explains: For instance, there is a spectrum of specific electrical signals in the brain defining the feeling of tiredness ("I'm tired!"). Some of the most easily detected neural patterns are: "I'm hungry, "I'm tired," "I'm curious who that is?" and "I want to pee." (It is worth pointing out that dogs "think" in a different way than humans. Whereas the dog's brain signals might indicate hunger, that does of course not really mean the dog is "thinking" that, it's rather more a mental state than a "thought," although the difference between these two things is actually an interesting philosophical question, for those who are into these things.)

The one hangup is how to best fit the EEG monitor to the dog’s fur for maximum results and comfort for the dog.

Currently, the company is offering prototypes that will help fund the research, starting as low as $65, which detect 2-3 thought patterns. Prototypes go up to $1,200 per unit, which are created to blend with your dog’s fur and come with a golden engraved dog tag.

“Right now we are only scraping the surface of possibilities; the project is only in its cradle. And to be completely honest, the first version will be quite rudimentary. But hey, the first computer was pretty crappy too,” reads the website.

Personally, I think I’ll just continue to read my dog’s body language and allow him to speak his own “woof.”

By Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell