Seven Years after the Manifesto: Literature Review and Research Directions for Technologies in Animal Computer Interaction

As technologies diversify and become embedded in everyday lives, the technologies we expose to animals, and the new technologies being developed for animals within the field of Animal Computer Interaction (ACI) are increasing. As we approach seven years since the ACI manifesto, which grounded the field within Human Computer Interaction and Computer Science, this thematic literature review looks at the technologies developed for (non-human) animals. Technologies that are analysed include tangible and physical, haptic and wearable, olfactory, screen technology and tracking systems. The conversation explores what exactly ACI is whilst questioning what it means to be animal by considering the impact and loop between machine and animal interactivity. The findings of this review are expected to form the first grounding foundation of ACI technologies informing future research in animal computing as well as suggesting future areas for exploratio

Towards Intelligent Playful Environments for Animals based on Natural User Interfaces

Tesis por compendioEl estudio de la interacción de los animales con la tecnología y el desarrollo de sistemas tecnológicos centrados en el animal está ganando cada vez más atención desde la aparición del área de Animal Computer Interaction (ACI). ACI persigue mejorar el bienestar de los animales en diferentes entornos a través del desarrollo de tecnología adecuada para ellos siguiendo un enfoque centrado en el animal. Entre las líneas de investigación que ACI está explorando, ha habido bastante interés en la interacción de los animales con la tecnología basada en el juego. Las actividades de juego tecnológicas tienen el potencial de proveer estimulación mental y física a los animales en diferentes contextos, pudiendo ayudar a mejorar su bienestar. Mientras nos embarcamos en la era de la Internet de las Cosas, las actividades de juego tecnológicas actuales para animales todavía no han explorado el desarrollo de soluciones pervasivas que podrían proveerles de más adaptación a sus preferencias a la vez que ofrecer estímulos tecnológicos más variados. En su lugar, estas actividades están normalmente basadas en interacciones digitales en lugar de explorar dispositivos tangibles o aumentar las interacciones con otro tipo de estímulos. Además, estas actividades de juego están ya predefinidas y no cambian con el tiempo, y requieren que un humano provea el dispositivo o la tecnología al animal. Si los humanos pudiesen centrarse más en su participación como jugadores de un sistema interactivo para animales en lugar de estar pendientes de sujetar un dispositivo para el animal o de mantener el sistema ejecutándose, esto podría ayudar a crear lazos más fuertes entre especies y promover mejores relaciones con los animales. Asimismo, la estimulación mental y física de los animales son aspectos importantes que podrían fomentarse si los sistemas de juego diseñados para ellos pudieran ofrecer un variado rango de respuestas, adaptarse a los comportamientos del animal y evitar que se acostumbre al sistema y pierda el interés. Por tanto, esta tesis propone el diseño y desarrollo de entornos tecnológicos de juego basados en Interfaces Naturales de Usuario que puedan adaptarse y reaccionar a las interacciones naturales de los animales. Estos entornos pervasivos permitirían a los animales jugar por si mismos o con una persona, ofreciendo actividades de juego más dinámicas y atractivas capaces de adaptarse con el tiempo.L'estudi de la interacció dels animals amb la tecnologia i el desenvolupament de sistemes tecnològics centrats en l'animal està guanyant cada vegada més atenció des de l'aparició de l'àrea d'Animal Computer Interaction (ACI) . ACI persegueix millorar el benestar dels animals en diferents entorns a través del desenvolupament de tecnologia adequada per a ells amb un enfocament centrat en l'animal. Entre totes les línies d'investigació que ACI està explorant, hi ha hagut prou interès en la interacció dels animals amb la tecnologia basada en el joc. Les activitats de joc tecnològiques tenen el potencial de proveir estimulació mental i física als animals en diferents contextos, podent ajudar a millorar el seu benestar. Mentre ens embarquem en l'era de la Internet de les Coses, les activitats de joc tecnològiques actuals per a animals encara no han explorat el desenvolupament de solucions pervasives que podrien proveir-los de més adaptació a les seues preferències al mateix temps que oferir estímuls tecnològics més variats. En el seu lloc, estes activitats estan normalment basades en interaccions digitals en compte d'explorar dispositius tangibles o augmentar les interaccions amb estímuls de diferent tipus. A més, aquestes activitats de joc estan ja predefinides i no canvien amb el temps, mentre requereixen que un humà proveïsca el dispositiu o la tecnologia a l'animal. Si els humans pogueren centrar-se més en la seua participació com a jugadors actius d'un sistema interactiu per a animals en compte d'estar pendents de subjectar un dispositiu per a l'animal o de mantenir el sistema executant-se, açò podria ajudar a crear llaços més forts entre espècies i promoure millors relacions amb els animals. Així mateix, l'estimulació mental i física dels animals són aspectes importants que podrien fomentar-se si els sistemes de joc dissenyats per a ells pogueren oferir un rang variat de respostes, adaptar-se als comportaments de l'animal i evitar que aquest s'acostume al sistema i perda l'interès. Per tant, esta tesi proposa el disseny i desenvolupament d'entorns tecnològics de joc basats en Interfícies Naturals d'Usuari que puguen adaptar-se i reaccionar a les interaccions naturals dels animals. Aquestos escenaris pervasius podrien permetre als animals jugar per si mateixos o amb una persona, oferint activitats de joc més dinàmiques i atractives que siguen capaces d'adaptar-se amb el temps.The study of animals' interactions with technology and the development of animal-centered technological systems is gaining attention since the emergence of the research area of Animal Computer Interaction (ACI). ACI aims to improve animals' welfare and wellbeing in several scenarios by developing suitable technology for the animal following an animal-centered approach. Among all the research lines ACI is exploring, there has been significant interest in animals' playful interactions with technology. Technologically mediated playful activities have the potential to provide mental and physical stimulation for animals in different environmental contexts, which could in turn help to improve their wellbeing. As we embark in the era of the Internet of Things, current technological playful activities for animals have not yet explored the development of pervasive solutions that could provide animals with more adaptation to their preferences as well as offering varied technological stimuli. Instead, playful technology for animals is usually based on digital interactions rather than exploring tangible devices or augmenting the interactions with different stimuli. In addition, these playful activities are already predefined and do not change over time, while they require that a human has to be the one providing the device or technology to the animal. If humans could focus more on their participation as active players of an interactive system aimed for animals instead of being concerned about holding a device for the animal or keep the system running, this might help to create stronger bonds between species and foster better relationships with animals. Moreover, animals' mental and physical stimulation are important aspects that could be fostered if the playful systems designed for animals could offer a varied range of outputs, be tailored to the animal's behaviors and prevented the animal to get used to the system and lose interest. Therefore, this thesis proposes the design and development of technological playful environments based on Natural User Interfaces that could adapt and react to the animals' natural interactions. These pervasive scenarios would allow animals to play by themselves or with a human, providing more engaging and dynamic playful activities that are capable of adapting over time.Pons Tomás, P. (2018). Towards Intelligent Playful Environments for Animals based on Natural User Interfaces [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/113075TESISCompendi

Monitoring the ‘original’ panda: Impacts and outcomes of using infra-red trail cameras on captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens) behaviour : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science at Lincoln University

Introduction: Cryptic species are often studied using trail cameras in the wild. However, their use may cause some animals to be attracted or repelled by them, skewing presence/absence studies, abundance/population estimates and general behaviour patterns. Red panda are an elusive and rare species, found in only the Himalayan mountain range. A recent study observed red panda examining trail cameras on their trails in the wild. Understanding how they respond to trail cameras may influence how cameras are used to monitor them in the future. Aims: I assessed whether trail cameras affected captive red panda behaviour. I also determined time budgets and how they may differ with different observational methods. Methods: I used three zoo study sites, Auckland Zoo, Hamilton Zoo and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Auckland Zoo had a male and female pair with their three-month-old male offspring. Hamilton Zoo had an older male, female pair with their four-year-old female offspring. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary housed a single older male. A Kinopta Blackeye camera was set up on enclosure fencing to record continuously for the full study period. Study periods were split into three sections, with the first being labelled as before trail cameras, this just had the Blackeye camera. The middle third had trail cameras set up inside the enclosure and was called the during period. The last third of the trial (after trail cameras removed) had only the Blackeye setup, with trail cameras removed. During the entire study period, direct personal observations were also taken, noting typical significant factors, such as weather and temperature. Statistical analysis was carried out using R studio, with a mixture of chi-square, negative binomial GLMs, emmeans, pairwise comparisons and AIC tests. Graphs were created with Excel and R studio. Results: Sleeping was the most common behaviour, followed by locomotion, resting, eating and grooming. All other behaviours were less than 1% of all behaviours. The most active periods occurred in a crepuscular pattern, as with wild panda and in some cases, followed keeper timings. This led to the significant difference between zoo activity budgets. There was a significant difference in types of behaviours recorded with the two observational methods, showing that method does affect the type of data collected. Trail cameras affected behaviour at all zoos by changing the way red panda spent their time. Captive red panda were slightly more active with trail camera presence. Temperature also had a significant impact on length of behaviours. Red panda spent more time sleeping and resting at higher temperatures. Conclusions: As trail cameras changed the way red panda spent their time (in a captive setting), care should be taken for using trail cameras in the wild. While stress responses and obvious signs of avoiding areas with trail cameras did not occur, if behaviour is being monitored, then it is likely to be skewed by trail camera presence. Red panda were more active during trail camera presence, which might suggest an inflated abundance estimate if using trail cameras in the wild

Into the night : evaluating sleep as a measure of animal welfare

There is a need for a simple non-invasive measure of animal welfare. In humans, sleep quality correlates strongly with a person’s wellbeing; this suggests that sleep may also prove to be a suitable tool to measure mammals’ welfare. Studies in humans have shown that lack of sleep compromises the health of individuals, causing heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and even cancer. Likewise, research conducted with shift workers demonstrated they are more likely to develop such diseases but are also more susceptible to psychological conditions such as depression. Considering humans and mammals have similar physiology and sleeping patterns, disturbances in mammals’ natural sleeping cycles could have similar outcomes. Our model system to examine this is the domestic dog. This system was chosen because dogs are a well-studied species regarding their physiology and have been used as a model in human sleep studies. They also co-exist with humans which gives us insight on their environment. This thesis presents the results of a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate sleep as a measure of animal welfare in domestic dogs. Firstly, trough behavioural observations, the sleep structure of kenneled dogs was investigated and after finding the dogs had an altered sleep architecture and highly fragmented sleep in the surveyed environment, we then verified the impact of sleep loss in other behaviours. Secondly, using glucocorticoids levels and assessing environmental variables such as temperature, light and sound levels, we evaluated how the environment along with stress responses can further compromise sleep and found important correlations between these measures. Thirdly, using wearable technology, dogs sleep, activity and health parameters (heart rate and respiration rate) were measured and results compared which sleep parameters, demonstrating remote sensing is a reliable technology and can provide further information on the effects of sleep loss in dogs. Lastly, an autonomous system was developed which combines deep leaning techniques (convolutional neural networks) with classical data processing methods to automatically detect and quantify dogs’ sleeping patterns and the results demonstrated it is an efficient tool to measure sleep and a practical solution to common problems associated with welfare research.Keywords: animal welfare, sleep behaviour, sleep quality, domestic dogs

An investigation of social structure in housed dairy cows

The changing landscape of the UK’s dairy farms poses increasing challenges to farm staff in terms of monitoring individuals behaviour within increasing herds, and more intensive conditions. Failure to detect behavioural changes may be costly, both from a welfare and financial perspective, as such alterations may indicate underlying disease or other challenges with corresponding impacts on yield and animal well-being. Social behaviour may provide a useful indicator of normal animal activity, and subsequent changes with health status, particularly if automatically monitored to reduce labour. This thesis applies a local positioning system (LPS) to collect social proximities of dairy cows, to investigate the social structure of a housed herd via social network analysis, and any relationship with traits or health. The LPS was validated by comparing sensor reported, with human observed proximities, and accurately detected proximities at lying, feeding and in direct interactions. Use of this data to construct social networks indicated a highly connected structure, with some substructure becoming evident after filters were applied. An approaching significant effect of parity on sociality was found, but stage of lactation had no effect. Temporally, the network showed some stability but a much greater amount of variation. When divided into ‘functional area’ (feeding, non-feeding and milking), the non-feeding area of the shed yielded the most loosely connected network with likely most interest for further analysis due to its potential basis in choice, as opposed to forced proximity. In these functional area networks, some evidence exists for homophily (association with similar cows – based on parity and days in milk). Finally, sociality was investigated alongside health status, with evidence for a tendency for greater betweenness in lame cows than non-lame. The results suggest that sociality is a highly variable trait, and that further investigation is required to assess its suitability as a disease indicator

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa comprehensively explores the challenges and potential solutions to key conservation issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Easy to read, this lucid and accessible textbook includes fifteen chapters that cover a full range of conservation topics, including threats to biodiversity, environmental laws, and protected areas management, as well as related topics such as sustainability, poverty, and human-wildlife conflict. This rich resource also includes a background discussion of what conservation biology is, a wide range of theoretical approaches to the subject, and concrete examples of conservation practice in specific African contexts. Strategies are outlined to protect biodiversity whilst promoting economic development in the region. Boxes covering specific themes written by scientists who live and work throughout the region are included in each chapter, together with recommended readings and suggested discussion topics. Each chapter also includes an extensive bibliography. Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa provides the most up-to-date study in the field. It is an essential resource, available on-line without charge, for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a handy guide for professionals working to stop the rapid loss of biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa

"Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa comprehensively explores the challenges and potential solutions to key conservation issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Easy to read, this lucid and accessible textbook includes fifteen chapters that cover a full range of conservation topics, including threats to biodiversity, environmental laws, and protected areas management, as well as related topics such as sustainability, poverty, and human-wildlife conflict. This rich resource also includes a background discussion of what conservation biology is, a wide range of theoretical approaches to the subject, and concrete examples of conservation practice in specific African contexts. Strategies are outlined to protect biodiversity whilst promoting economic development in the region. Boxes covering specific themes written by scientists who live and work throughout the region are included in each chapter, together with recommended readings and suggested discussion topics. Each chapter also includes an extensive bibliography. Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa provides the most up-to-date study in the field. It is an essential resource, available on-line without charge, for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a handy guide for professionals working to stop the rapid loss of biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.

2016 Oklahoma Research Day Full Program

This document contains all abstracts from the 2016 Oklahoma Research Day held at Northeastern State University