wireless button allows dogs to control home appliances

Blue push pad allows furry pets to see it clearly

Meet the Dogosophy Button, a wireless button that allows dogs to control and turn on and off home appliances on their own. The idea was developed at The Open University’s Animal-Computer Interaction Laboratory, led by Professor Clara Mancini. The goal was not to teach dogs human habits, but to redesign technology so the device fits dogs’ bodies, senses, and ways of thinking. Its design starts with how dogs see and move.

Dogs see colors differently from humans, and blue is one of the colors they can recognize most clearly. For this reason, the button has a blue push pad, but the rest of the casing is white, which helps the button stand out against walls, floors, or furniture. The shape of the button is slightly curved and raised, so dogs can press it from many angles without needing exact aim.

all images and videos courtesy of Dogosophy Button

Wireless button for dogs connects to home appliances

The outer casing of the wireless button for dogs and home appliances is made from plastic, robust enough that it can handle repeated pushing by paws or noses. The push pad has a light texture, which helps dogs grip it without slipping. Inside the button, there is a small light that flashes when the button is pressed. It is also soft, so it does not hurt dogs’ eyes, but it clearly shows that the push worked. Each set includes a button, a receiver, and simple fixings, and the receiver is plugged into a home appliance, such as a lamp, fan, or kettle. When the dog presses the button, the signal travels through the air to the receiver, which then turns the appliance on or off.

The button can work from up to 40 meters away, so it can be placed wherever the dog can reach it easily. This wireless button that connects to appliances is especially helpful for assistance dogs, which are trained to help people with disabilities by turning on lights, cooling a room with a fan, or helping with daily routines. The device responds to both gentle nose nudges and stronger paw presses, and for companion dogs, it allows for training that can allow them to turn appliances on and off. The researchers say they’ve worked with animal charities and trainers to understand what dogs need and what they can do comfortably before coming up with the wireless button’s design. In this way, the technology adapts to them instead of the other way around.