Parrots and Tablets: A New Frontier in Pet Technology

March 20, 2024

How Tablet Games are Changing Parrot Enrichment

A groundbreaking study by Northeastern University's Rébecca Kleinberger and her team unveils fascinating insights into parrots' engagement with tablet games. By analyzing their interactions with a simple touchscreen game, researchers aim to tailor technology to better suit animal abilities, enhancing their cognitive enrichment. With parrots displaying remarkable dexterity and enthusiasm in game sessions, this research promises to open new avenues in pet technology, highlighting touchscreen devices as a valuable tool for strengthening the human-animal bond while addressing the nuances of designing user experiences for non-human users.

Read the full story here: Parrots Love Tablet Games. How Do They Play Them?

Highlights

• Touchscreen technology has become a pivotal part of everyday life and its potential for animal enrichment is growing.
• Parrots, known for their intelligence and sociability, can significantly benefit from touchscreen-based cognitive enrichment.
• The study focuses on understanding parrots' interaction with a specific tablet game to design better tech for animal use.
• Data collected on parrots' performance provides valuable insights into how human design principles translate to animals.
• Custom adjustments during the study highlight the importance of real-time ergonomic modifications for better usability.
• The positive feedback from caregivers underscores technology's role in enhancing human-animal bonding.
• Risks and concerns associated with parrots' use of touchscreen devices are identified, mirroring those of humans.

Northeastern University's recent study led by assistant professor Rébecca Kleinberger, in collaboration with Megan McMahon, Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, and Jennifer Cunha, demonstrates how parrots interact with tablet games. Through the use of a Balloon Pop-style game, researchers gathered data on parrots' touchscreen use, aiming to create technology specifically designed for their unique interaction patterns. This research is at the forefront of exploiting digital interfaces to improve the lives of animals such as dogs, orcas, and parrots, emphasizing the value of cognitive enrichment in animal welfare.

The study highlighted various findings about parrots' touchscreen interactions, from their preferred use of tongues to operate devices to the implications of Fitts’ Law regarding target acquisition. Data showed that parrots' accuracy in touchscreen tasks varied with target size and their physical characteristics, such as size. The team introduced a 'multi-tap threshold' feature during the study to mitigate frustration, underscoring the need for device interfaces that cater to animal capabilities and preferences. These insights are crucial for developing more intuitive and accessible technologies for pets.

Beyond the technological implications, the study reinforced the potential for touchscreens to enhance the connection between parrots and their caregivers. Despite concerns about overuse and device damage, the shared experience of tablet gaming was reported as a positive bonding activity. Looking forward, the researchers aim to refine touchscreen technology for wider application in animal care and enrichment, hoping their findings will guide the burgeoning pet tech industry in creating data-driven, welfare-enhancing products. This approach not only benefits pet owners and the pet tech market but also contributes valuable knowledge to the broader scientific and technological communities.

Read the full article here.

Essential Insights

• Rébecca Kleinberger: Assistant Professor at Northeastern University, leading research on animal-computer interaction.
• Megan McMahon: Undergraduate studying behavioral neuroscience, contributed to adapting the tablet game for parrots.
• Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas: Collaborator from the University of Glasgow, working on the study of parrots and touchscreen technology.
• Jennifer Cunha: Florida-based collaborator, involved in the parrot and touchscreen technology study.
• Northeastern University: Institution where the innovative research on parrots and touchscreen technology was conducted.