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Japanese Researchers Create Remote Control Device For A Dog

Take a look around your home. I daresay you have rather a lot of things that have remote controls. Your TV for one. What about something more technical like a wall socket or light? I daresay, however, that one thing you do not have on a remote control is a dog.

Japan does though! Following a release of a video, Japanese researchers have shown that by using lights, they are effectively able to use a dog via remote controls.

I Can Do That With a Laser Pointer!

Yes, I’m sure you can. This is, however, a little bit more technical than pointing a light at the wall or floor and seeing your dog perpetually confused by it. The technology, however, isn’t that far removed either. Researchers at Tohoku University attached a vest to a dog with a number of lights. With the use of remote controls, they were able to shine a light on the floor indicating to the dog (through training) which direction to go in.

Is This Another One Of Those Completely Impractical Exercises?

Well, surprisingly no. This could actually have a lot of benefits. For example, if there was an area in which a rescue dog needed to go, how are you going to tell it? Despite programs such as Lassie, we are not able to communicate with dogs that well! With the use of this device though, the lights could be used as a guide and with the ‘doggie camera‘ on board, it does have a remarkably huge amount of potential.

Please don’t go strapping a bunch of torches to your dog though! Remember, this was done by researchers and scientists, not some bloke in his shed!

What do you think? What applications do you think this could have? – Let us know in the comments!