July 8, 2016
The Internet of Things continues to expand its reach. Every day, there is a new product using the cloud, big data, or internet connectivity to deliver capabilities once thought impossible. From smart showers to smart thermostats, every industry appears to have found a way to improve their products with the internet. It was only a matter of time before the pet industry found their niche as well with pet tech.
Whether cats or dogs, pets have been integrated into human society for thousands of years. Today, there are two new products available to help enrich the lives of our cats and dogs—the Tailio and Furbo.
The Tailio and Furbo
Tailio
For pet owners, there’s nothing more important than their pets’ health. The Tailio is designed to help monitor and track your cat’s well-being, and it does so in a rather unexpected way. The Tailio is the first “smart litterbox.”
Actually, the Tailio is a device resembling a white platform that slides underneath any existing litterbox. As a cat uses the box to eliminate waste, the Tailio will collect data. Overtime, the data collected will paint an accurate picture of your cat’s routine and weight. Deviations in this routine or adjustments in weight are often early warning signs of a slew of disorders or diseases. The Tailio will send automatic alerts to your phone if any deviation is found.
Using the Tailio, cat owners can preemptively avert many of the following conditions:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney Disease
- Urinary Tract Issues
- Congestive Heart Failure
Furbo: Pet Tech
The Furbo tackles a completely different issue in pet ownership. We love our dogs, but regular nine-to-five jobs prevent us from spending our weekdays with them. Often, our dogs are left alone for most of the day. The Furbo is designed to help keep dogs and their guardians connected throughout the workweek.
- Interact: The Furbo includes a two-way audio device allowing you to hear your dog and your dog to hear you. Furthermore, you can trigger the Furbo to launch a small dog biscuit to reinforce good behavior, to work on training, or to play while you’re away.
- Alerts: Furbo will notify your smartphone or watch if your dog is barking in the house. A prompt will appear to activate the Furbo camera, so you can check in on the issue.
- Comfort: The Furbo can help with separation anxiety. It shines a blue light designed to calm the dog and emits a quiet clicking noise meant to simulate a dog trainer’s clicking device.
- Video Recording and Sharing: The dog guardian can connect to the Furbo’s live video feed and record a scene at any time. Then the Furbo app allows easy sharing to any social media site.
The Future of IoT and Pets
These are just two examples of a growing Internet of Things market within the pet industry. Outside the Furbo and Tailio are smart pet feeders, pet trainers, and even a Fitbit-style device for dogs. As humans become more and more intertwined with the technology we use every day, it is only natural for the same dynamic to occur with the animals closest to us. As IoT continues to redefine household objects, we can expect to see technology enrich the lives of our pets as well.
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