Improving the Design of Track and Trace Products: Evidence from a Field Study on Pet Tracking Devices

Animal-Computer Interaction: The emergence of a discipline

“…Similarly, for decades, dogs have been trained to operate domestic interfaces such as light switches or washing machines to carry out tasks on behalf of their assisted human companions . Moreover, in recent years, a host of computing-enabled devices such as tracking collars (von Watzdorf and Michahelles, 2010) or teleconferencing systems (Golbeck and Neustaedter, 2012) To what extent have they shaped the processes through which such technologies are developed? How does the interaction with these technologies influence the animals' capabilities, activities and experience?…”

Understanding the Interaction Between Animals and Wearables

“…Animal biotelemetry, such as electronic trackers, activity monitors, or vital parameter sensors, are used in a range of activities from pet caring to wildlife research. For example, cat guardians might use GPS receivers to track their pets when these roam outdoors [37], and biologists might use them to monitor wide-ranging and migratory species [39]. While people are the users of such devices, interested in gathering biological data, animals are the wearers, bearing these tags on their bodies.…”

Wearer-centered design for animal biotelemetry

“…Telecommunication and satellite technologies are increasingly being exploited for the monitoring of pets. A variety of wearables are being sold on the market to satisfy the need of pet carers who are interested in quantifying and managing their pets' activity [11]. Indeed, phenomena like lifelogging and quantification have become a new trend among pet carers worried about the safety and health of their animal companions [1].…”