Home Tech: Pets Need Gadgets, Too
Longing for a better way to track your dog's whereabouts or provide indoor-outdoor pet access? New home gadgets do that and more
Houzz Contributor. I'm a Silicon Valley-based writer, columnist and blogger, covering technology and culture. http://elgan.com
Houzz Contributor. I'm a Silicon Valley-based writer, columnist and blogger,... More »
Sure, we all love our mobile phones, tablets, Internet-connected TVs and other consumer electronic toys. But what about our furry friends? Cats and dogs can benefit from the very same technologies humans do. New tech can improve the health, safety and happiness of your pet — and make the whole pet experience more fun and pleasant for you, too.
In fact, you could argue that pets need technology more than we do. Without opposable thumbs or the capacity of speech, pets need the empowering technologies even more than we do.
In fact, you could argue that pets need technology more than we do. Without opposable thumbs or the capacity of speech, pets need the empowering technologies even more than we do.
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Wireless for Easy Access
Pet doors are common. They’re also problematic. The most popular types are little more than heavy rubber flaps that dogs and cats can push forward with their heads, giving them access to the great outdoors and then back into the house.
But such doors also allow other things into the house. For example, raccoons, deer, other people’s pets, burglars and hot or cold air that reduces a home’s insulation.
A pet door is perfect for the application of wireless technology. The best kind use a unique microchip on your pet’s collar. It’s like E-ZPass access for authorized four-footed family members but a locked door for everyone else.
These special collars are unique — like door keys. That means if your neighbors use the same exact brand of electronic door, their pets won’t be allowed into your home, nor your pet into theirs. The collars don’t use electricity, so they don’t need batteries. And they’re waterproof.
One of the best doors of this type is the Plexidor Electronic Pet Door with One Touch Programming. The Plexidor has a sliding door that slides down to close and up to open. You can program how long the door stays open when it's activated. And it’s strong enough to keep out burglars and sealed enough to keep out the elements.
Pet doors are common. They’re also problematic. The most popular types are little more than heavy rubber flaps that dogs and cats can push forward with their heads, giving them access to the great outdoors and then back into the house.
But such doors also allow other things into the house. For example, raccoons, deer, other people’s pets, burglars and hot or cold air that reduces a home’s insulation.
A pet door is perfect for the application of wireless technology. The best kind use a unique microchip on your pet’s collar. It’s like E-ZPass access for authorized four-footed family members but a locked door for everyone else.
These special collars are unique — like door keys. That means if your neighbors use the same exact brand of electronic door, their pets won’t be allowed into your home, nor your pet into theirs. The collars don’t use electricity, so they don’t need batteries. And they’re waterproof.
One of the best doors of this type is the Plexidor Electronic Pet Door with One Touch Programming. The Plexidor has a sliding door that slides down to close and up to open. You can program how long the door stays open when it's activated. And it’s strong enough to keep out burglars and sealed enough to keep out the elements.
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| Sonar for Better Water The standard way to make sure your dog gets enough water is to place water in a bowl. But this isn’t ideal. First, the hotter the weather, the more water your dog needs, yet the faster water evaporates. So there can be less water available when your dog needs more. Also, water in a bowl gets warm, harbors bacteria and can be consumed by other animals, leaving your dog with nothing to drink. The solution? What else? Technology! A new product called WaterDog uses ultrasonic proximity detection to give your dog all the water he or she needs whenever it's needed, right from the hose spigot. When the dog gets within 3 feet of the WaterDog, the water turns on like a water fountain. When drinking is done and the dog wanders away, it turns off. It provides water that’s fresh, cool and unlimited. |
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| Lasers for Endless Entertainment Cats and dogs are intelligent creatures. And they get bored. Especially if they spend a lot of time indoors. So new electronic games have emerged on the market to entertain them. If you search the tablet section of your Apple iOS or Google Android app store, you’ll find game apps for pets. One fun toy for both cats and dogs involves a computerized laser beam. Called Dart, the programmable laser pointer places a dot of light to chase all over the floor. You can set it at any of 16 settings for fast or slow play. |
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| Satellites for Safety Every dog owner's nightmare is a missing pooch. When that happens, stapling signs on neighborhood telephone poles (“Have You Seen My Dog?”) doesn’t work as well as real-time satellite tracking on a map. That’s what GPS dog collars enable you to do, and much more. There are many brands to choose from. One example is the Retrieva, which not only gives you tracking but alerts you if your dog wanders beyond a specified radius. It even provides a historical record of where your dog went and when. |
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Tweeting Isn’t Just for Parakeets
Most dogs lack mastery of the English language. But that doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t communicate with us. In fact, they do it every day, and we communicate back.
In other words, dogs are social. So why not let them use social networks?
That’s the thinking behind Puppy Tweets. The product includes a dog collar that senses motion, and it interprets that motion to figure out what your dog is doing. It then transmits that information wirelessly to your home computer, where the software sends a Twitter message, or tweet, from your dog’s Twitter feed. The software chooses from about 500 tweets based on activity.
You, as well as others if you choose, can follow your dog’s Twitter feed and get messages triggered by activity all day.
Most dogs lack mastery of the English language. But that doesn’t mean they don’t or can’t communicate with us. In fact, they do it every day, and we communicate back.
In other words, dogs are social. So why not let them use social networks?
That’s the thinking behind Puppy Tweets. The product includes a dog collar that senses motion, and it interprets that motion to figure out what your dog is doing. It then transmits that information wirelessly to your home computer, where the software sends a Twitter message, or tweet, from your dog’s Twitter feed. The software chooses from about 500 tweets based on activity.
You, as well as others if you choose, can follow your dog’s Twitter feed and get messages triggered by activity all day.
Ideabook published on Aug. 21, 2012.
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Nevertheless, it was a fun read. :-)
Come to think of it, I'd love to see someone stick their head through our regular pet door with the intention of coming in that way! My dogs are friendly, but under those circumstances I think their protective instincts would probably kick in! And even if they didn't, they'd drown in the slobber before getting all the way through... ;)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SureFlap-Ltd-Microchip-Door-White/dp/B003EGIM3O
Here's some reviews
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/feedback/shop/cats/cat_flaps_nets/cat_flaps/microchip_flaps/138700
Also
The GPS trackers sounds like a good idea but the ones I have found needed charging every week which will be no good if you are close to needing a recharge or you let it go flat and your pet goes missing.
I am using a cheaper tracking device, it's not purrfect but it has helped me find my pet.
http://www.loc8tor.com/uk/primary-products/loc8tor-pet.html
I see they have the dog GPS ones now, but they are too big for the cats.
Bummer!
http://www.loc8tor.com/uk/primary-products/loc8tor-pet-gps.html
http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Deluxe-Panel-Sliding-Doors/dp/B0002I0FAK/