London, September 15, 2025 (Agencies): Scientists are working to create an “animal internet” that will enable pets and zoo animals to communicate and interact with each other — and with humans — through digital devices, potentially revolutionizing human-animal relationships.
Dr. Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Glasgow, leads the Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) group and has already developed a phone for dogs and a “play-dating” system for parrots. Her work focuses on bridging the communication gap for animals, many of which are highly social but live in isolation compared to their natural habitats.
Hirskyj-Douglas began by designing a communication system for her own dog, Zach. The setup allowed Zach to shake a ball with an accelerometer, triggering a video call to her. Both the dog and owner could initiate or ignore calls, and soon, regular video calls became part of their daily routine.
The research team then created a video-call interface for parrots, teaching the birds to use their tongues on tablet screens to connect with other parrots. This “digital play-date” system allowed the birds to socialize and interact virtually, improving their well-being.
Speaking at the British Science Festival in Liverpool, Hirskyj-Douglas said, “We plan to move beyond simple video calling and really enable animals to do things interactively. To build a workable ‘animal internet,’ we must develop species-specific technologies that give animals tools suited to their abilities.”
Global interest in animal communication technology is also growing. In May, Chinese tech giant Baidu filed a patent for an AI-based system that could translate animal sounds into human language, potentially opening the door to deeper emotional understanding between species.