The Role of Ethological Observation for Measuring Animal Reactions to Biotelemetry Devices

This paper presents a methodological approach used to assess the wearability of biotelemetry devices in animals. A detailed protocol to gather quantitative and qualitative ethological observations was adapted and tested in an experimental study of 13 cat participants wearing two different GPS devices. The aim was twofold: firstly, to ascertain the potential interference generated by the devices on the animal body and behavior by quantifying and characterizing it; secondly, to individuate device features potentially responsible for the influence registered, and establish design requirements. This research contributes towards the development of a framework for evaluating the design of wearer-centered biotelemetry interventions for animals, consistent with values advocated by Animal- Computer Interaction researchers

A Wearer-Centred Framework to Design for Wearability in Animal Biotelemetry

In a technological era, monitoring animals for scientific, husbandry, or caring reasons is often done by using tracking systems attached to the animals’ bodies. Remote data acquisition from animals has enhanced the knowledge about their biology and ecology. However, there is evidence that carrying biotelemetry tags affects the welfare of animal wearers and interferes with the validity of recorded data. On welfare and scientific grounds, animal scientists have advocated for the re-design of physical and functional aspects of tags, proposing guidelines aimed at minimising device-induced impacts. However, such guidelines are dispersed and difficult to apply systematically. Hence, there is a need for an approach to systematising the design of animal-borne tags in order to minimise their impact on the wearer. This thesis addresses such a challenge. It draws on the concept of wearability and proposes it as a design goal to develop devices that afford a better wearer experience (WX) for animals. The thesis develops a wearer-centred design framework (WCF) and applies it to demonstrate its usefulness to systematically design for good wearability. Specifically, after the framework’s elements were derived by analysing relevant information in the biotelemetry and interaction design literature, the framework was administered to teams of workshop participants who implemented it to perform a requirements analysis for a cat-tracking device. Workshop requirements served to produce a feline-centred prototype which was tested with cat wearers to investigate their experience of wearing it and thus evaluate its wearability. Outcomes show improvements of the prototype in relation to off-the-shelf devices which were tested in a parallel study. This study established a baseline for investigating a cat WX and highlighted various wearability issues with the off-the-shelf tags. Lastly, this research demonstrates that designers can systematically design for wearability using the WCF therefore supporting the thesis that the reduction of device-related impacts is achievable

Understanding the Interaction Between Animals and Wearables: The Wearer Experience of Cats

Animals can be negatively affected by wearable tracking devices, even those marketed as ‘animal friendly’ and increasingly used with companion animals, such as cats. To understand the wearer experience of cats fitted with popular GPS trackers, we measured the behavior of 13 feline participants while they were wearing the devices during a field study. The aim of our behavioral analysis was twofold: investigating potential signs of discomfort generated by the devices to evaluate the impact that such interventions have on cat wearers; identifying wearability flaws that might account for the observed impact and wearability requirements to improve the design of the devices. Based on our findings, we propose a set of requirements that should inform the design of trackers to afford better wearability and thus provide better wearer experience for cat wearers

Towards a Wearer-Centred Framework for Animal Biotelemetry

The emerging discipline of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) aims to understand the relation between animals and technology in naturalistic settings, to design technology that can support animals in different contexts and to develop user-centred research methods and frameworks that enable animals to take part in the design process as legitimate contributors [11]. Given existing interspecies differences and communication barriers, measuring the behaviour of animals involved in ACI research can be instrumental to achieving any or all of these aims, as a way of gauging the animals’ patterns, needs and preferences. Indeed, measuring behaviour is a common practice among ACI researchers, who take various approaches to this task [5,15,17,24]. In this respect, the use of biotelemetry devices such as VHF tags and GPS trackers, or bio-logging and environmental sensors has a significant potential [22]. At the same time, biotelemetry has been used for many years in many areas of biological research. Biotelemetry is used to improve the quality of physiological and behavioural data collected from animals and in an attempt to reduce researchers’ intrusion in the animals’ habitat [2]. However, there is evidence that carrying biotelemetry tags may influence the bearer’s physiology and behaviour [20]. Such impacts interfere with the validity of recorded data [14] and the welfare of individual animal wearers [1,3,13]. Neither of these effects are compatible with the animal-centred perspective advocated by ACI, on both scientific and ethical grounds. Our analysis of current body-attached device design and biotelemetry-enabled studies points to a general lack of wearer-centred perspective. To address these issues, we have developed a framework to inform the design of wearer-centred biotelemetry interventions, in order to support the implementation of animal-centred research methodologies and design solutions in ACI and other disciplines

Designing for wearability: an animal-centred framework

This paper presents a Wearer-Centered Framework (WCF) developed to support designing for good wearability in animal biotelemetry. Firstly, we describe the framework and the systematic process followed to develop it. Then, we report on how the WCF was evaluated with three teams of designers, who used it collaboratively to design a cat-centered tracking collar during dedicated workshops. We discuss our analysis of the designers’ dialogues, whose aim was to understand the extent to which the framework informed the designers’ thinking. Our findings indicate that the WCF was a useful tool to support the systematic elicitation of wearability requirements. They also suggest that designers could be provided with additional tools to support the WCF’s application more effectively

Designing for Wearability in Animal Biotelemetry

This research presents a preliminary study conducted on a cat fitted with biotelemetry devices. The aim was to explore the feline’s wearability experience of bearing off-the-shelf products. The cat’s reactions to the device presence were recorded and findings suggest the need for a design approach centred on the wearer. A wearer-centred framework to inform the design of biotelemetry interventions for animals is then propose

Wearer-Centered Design for Animal Biotelemetry: Implementation and Wearability Test of a Prototype

In this paper we present an approach to designing wearer-centered biotelemetry for non-human (and human) animal wearers. Drawing from fundamental values and principles of user-centered design, we describe a wearer-centered framework to heuristically establish design requirements, which was used during a series of workshops to perform a requirements analysis for a cat-tracking device. The resulting requirements informed a feline-centered prototype whose wearability was evaluated with cat wearers. Compared to the wearability of previously tested off-the-shelf devices, our findings show an improvement and suggest that our framework-based approach can help design teams with a range of skills to systematically design for wearability

“Who’s a Good Robot?!” Designing Human-Robot Teaching Interactions Inspired by Dog Training

Recent work in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) investigates the role of human users as teachers from which robots can flexibly learn new personalised skills through interaction. However, existing human-robot teaching methods remain largely unintuitive for the end user and require significant effort to adapt to the way the robot learns. This paper envisions the use of dog training methods as a starting point for HRI researchers to develop more intuitive interactions between human teachers and robot learners. We provide a design framework (called FETCH-R) aimed at guiding the conception of interactions between human teachers and robot learners inspired by dog training. This work paves the way towards the use of animal training as an inspiration to create human-robot teaching protocols that promote engagement, ease-of-use, and fosters human-robot relationships

Examining university student satisfaction and barriers to taking online remote exams

Recent years have seen a surge in the popularity of online exams at universities, due to the greater convenience and flexibility they offer both students and institutions. Driven by the dearth of empirical data on distance learning students' satisfaction levels and the difficulties they face when taking online exams, a survey with 562 students at The Open University (UK) was conducted to gain insights into their experiences with this type of exam. Satisfaction was reported with the environment and exams, while work commitments and technical difficulties presented the greatest barriers. Gender, race and disability were also associated with different levels of satisfaction and barriers. This study adds to the increasing number of studies into online exams, demonstrating how this type of exam can still have a substantial effect on students experienced in online learning systems and technologies