Gadget Translates 'Woof' into Words

Japanese toymaker debuts dog translator next month
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 20, 2009 2:33 PM CDT

Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? The “Bowlingual Voice” from Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy claims to be able to tell you just that, the Telegraph reports. The device is made up of a microphone and transmitter on the collar that categorizes the dog’s utterances into one of six emotions—such as sadness, anger or happiness—and plays an appropriate sample of speech from a handset.

The Bowlingual Voice is an update of an earlier gadget that displayed the dog’s emotion on a screen rather than playing a phrase—and sold 300,000 units when it launched 7 years ago. The new version goes on sale next month in Japan for $213.
(More dog stories.)

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