by Roberta del Vaglio.
The home also becomes smart for pets and in particular dogs and cats, with devices and technologies that help make them happy when the owner spends many hours away from home.
The small and intelligent appliances that are making their way into the home are designed above all for those who spend a good part of the day at work, or elsewhere, but want to make sure that their dog and cat have everything they need at their disposal. And if it is true that presence, affection and play cannot be replaced by a machine, we must recognize that a little help can make the organization of daily life simpler and more effective.
Furbo diversified pet cameras for dogs and cats – furbo.com
Interactive pet camera Petchatz – petchatz.com
THE “SMART” PET DESIGN
Pet design is an approach to the design of spaces aimed at the well-being of pets and their owners, which today can also count on “smart” technologies capable of connecting different devices and activating them based on the needs and conditions of the moment. In the specific case of dogs and cats, smart devices are responsible for offering them a series of attention ranging from food to the right temperature, through monitoring their movements and also their emotions. These devices are especially useful for those who are away from home for many hours a day, it being understood that it is always advisable to calibrate the hours of solitude for the individual pet and get him used to it appropriately.
Philips Pet series food dispenser and water fountain with camera and two-way audio – philips.it
NOURISHMENT, PLAY AND SMART HOME CLEANING
Precisely on the subject of loneliness and emotions, a recurring fear of those who start leaving their pet alone is that they may suffer to the point of adopting behaviors that are dangerous for themselves and the home. Help in this case is the pet camera which records and in some cases follows the movements of the animals and if connected to the specific application on the phone allows the owner to “talk” to the dog or cat to try to comfort them in case of anxiety.
In the more advanced versions – which require a training period to get the animal used to it – it also features a dispenser that launches one kibble at a time, to create interaction, play and distraction. If the dog is particularly emotional, a tracker can be useful: this device, used outdoors, tracks the position of the animal, at home it can detect the heartbeat and therefore report if there are peaks or anomalies.
Tractive GPS for dogs and cats with health alerts and activity monitoring – tractive.com
iRobot’s Roomba robot vacuum cleaner recognizes and does not vacuum up any waste left around by the dog or cat- irobot.com
The presence of food and water, in addition to being a necessity, is also a source of distraction and reassurance for the pet left alone at home. You can leave one or more bowls scattered around or opt for small food dispensers and water fountains to be programmed with specific times or activated remotely. In some cases there is also a camera that allows you to monitor the pet’s activity.
If there is a thermostat, it is a good idea to set it with the presence of animals in mind. Finally, from the world of smart appliances comes help with cleaning with robot vacuum cleaners and floor cleaners – the most advanced ones do not vacuum up any needs left lying around – which can be programmed and in many cases they recognize the presence of the animal so as not to disturb it. To come home and find happy animals and a clean house.
On the cover, the Petcube pet camera – petcube.com
