Pet Gizmos
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Top 10 inventions for pets
March 25, 2006 For the last 50 years, invention has been largely the domain of the corporation, which had the oomph to take a good idea through the time- and money consuming journey to market. But as the internet has connected the minds of a billion people, it’s becoming clear that no matter how good your product development team, it’s no match for the collective intelligence of the world’s population. With this in mind, the inaugural IdeaFetch pet product invention contest was created with ideas and voting all done online. Yesterday the winners were unveiled at the American Pet Product Manufacturer's Association (APPMA) Global Pet Expo and the winning pet inventions included a number of rippers. The outright winner, the MicroID Collar, will be available later this year as part of the winner’s prize and places an electronic journal on a pet's collar to store pet and owner data including name, address, phone number, vet visits, medications, etc. Other commercially viable ideas amongst the top 10 votegetters included a “Pet Fire Alert Collar” to help firefighters locate hiding pets in a house fire, a “Pet Fire Escape” for pets to escape from a house fire, a “collar-activated pet dish” that only opens to your pet, a “solar-powered doghouse blanket” for pets in cold climates and our favourite, “Hotel Kitty for the pussycat on the go.” Designed to enable your cat to travel with you, Hotel Kitty is an all-in-one cat carrier with all mod cons such as a litter tray, travel dishes and compartments for food, small toys, etc. Given that more than 50% of homes in most countries have a cat or dog, don’t underestimate the size of the market, or the potential to use the internet to further your product development efforts. (read more...)
Super hero Zeko wears Anti-ballistic doggles
March 15, 2006 Somewhere between Rin Tin Tin and RoboCop, Zeko the German Shepherd is a thoroughly modern 21st century canine superhero, displaying all of the character traits which have made dog man’s best friend. Zeko is deployed with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, stationed at Forward Operating Base McHenry in Iraq as an explosive detection dog. As such Zeko’s special bomb sniffing gear includes a specially modified ballistic vest and specially made ballistic "doggles” designed to keep him intact in the case of mishap. Zeko is not just loyal and brave but acutely talented – all explosive detection dogs must have a minimum 95-percent success rate on explosive detection - Zeko is currently tested at 98.7 percent, and additionally trained in desert warfare. He has found improvised bombs buried several feet in the hard desert ground. (read more...)
GlobalPetFinder - No more lost pets!
March 7, 2006 Remember the Disney movies where the much loved family pet is left behind whilst on holiday and has to endure a cross country journey to find their way home? The GlobalPetFinder device uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) and wireless technology to give you peace of mind with pet location updates every 2 seconds. You can choose to have the location information sent to your mobile phone, pager, PDA or computer in text or map form, or sent to more than one person. You can set multiple boundaries from zero to hundreds of acres for your pet, which can be easily changed to suit your needs via the internet or the device itself and are password protected. It can be used wherever phone service is available and also has an advanced module that minimizes 'canopy effect', allowing it to be used even in heavily wooded areas. If for some reason the device is temporarily unable to get a satellite 'lock,' it will continue to search until it does, and you will know where your pet was last. So whether your loved ones have two legs or four, they will always be protected and you can rest assured you know where they are at all times. (read more...)
Integrated Dog Collar, Harness & Leash (and seat belt latch)
October 5, 2005 For all those people who have a dog that takes them for a walk, the Quick Control line of collars, harnesses and leashes being unveiled later this week could be just the ticket. Both the Quick Control Collar and Quick Control Harness for bigger dogs have a built-in leash/handle that enables the dog to be controlled safely in those difficult moments all dog owners dread – at the vet, in the park and when suddenly and unexpectedly confronted by an aggressive canine. We like the concept because it addresses everyday safety and control issues with a simple, smart solution but the clincher is that both can be fitted with a seat belt latch, which addresses the need for safety while traveling in cars with dogs. It's a no-brainer because it's safer for everyone, including your beloved pet. (read more...)
How to stop the neighbour's dog from barking
August 18, 2005 The bark stops here! Variety International announced today the long awaited release of their new pet product, the K9 Kalmer. This is the only anti-barking device on the market that does not use pain or irritation to alter a dog's behavior. What makes the device unique is that it uses proprietary ultrasonic musical compositions -- songs that are inaudible to humans to calm anxious pets. Specifically, the K9 Kalmer was designed to stop irritating dog barking. "Dog ownership in residential communities is at an all time high," claims company president Jim Wessling. "That translates to a high nuisance factor as it relates to dog barking and the disturbance of the peace and quiet we have come to cherish in our neighborhoods." (read more...)
Dog-powered Scooter
June 6, 2005 This new concept in near zero emission transportation could be just what you’re looking for, though we suspect that parking might be a problem. Seriously though folks, if you have a big dog that often takes you for a walk, here’s a great way to harness all that energy and travel the bike paths of your city at the same time. The manufacturer and inventor Mark Schuette of Oregon claims the human is in total control of the speed and direction of the dog powered scooter because the dog is harnessed inside of the frame and subject to its steering (with 90 degree turns easy) and braking force. (read more...)
Pet with a purpose
It’s no secret that pets are beneficial to our general well-being with two thirds of all homes keeping a pet and research showing that children who have pets are more self-reliant, more sociable and less selfish than children without pets, that adults with pets have less stress and heart-related illness and that elderly with pets are more active and outgoing. Think pets and you tend to think of dogs (39% of US households have a dog) or cats (33%) but a new innovation might see chickens considered as ideal family pets in the future. Launched last year, the UKP365 (US$700) Eglu is the brainchild of four British Royal College of Art graduates and in its short time on the market has significantly improved the popularity of the chicken as a pet, at the same time as promoting a self-sustainability concept to families throughout the UK. Accordingly, the Eglu offers a taste of the good life for all, particularly if you’re a chicken. (read more...)
GoDogGo! An automatic fetch machine!
March 8, 2006 The mechanisation of every facet of human life has finally trickled down to playing with the dog. Too busy to play fetch with Fido? No problem, just get your dog his own personal playmate with the GoDogGo mechanical ball launching device, aka the ultimate "Canine Activity Sport". (read more...)
Catit filtered water system for cats - and dogs!
December 13, 2004 Filtered water systems have long been used by humans who want clean and fresh drinking water, and now the idea has spread to cats. The Catit Drinking Fountain responds to your pet's need for a continuous supply of water with an innovative design that re-circulates water with greater exposure to oxygen, providing fresh-tasting, cool, filtered water for a multitude of health benefits. (read more...)
The World's first hypoallergenic cats
October 29, 2004 American company ALLERCA is working to produce the world's first hypoallergenic cats - the first cats that will not affect human allergies. The resulting hypoallergenic cats will improve the health and quality of life for millions of cat-allergy sufferers. The first breed of hypoallergenic cat produced will be the British Shorthair, known to be friendly, playful and affectionate. The company expects the birth of the first kittens in early 2007, with other popular breeds to follow soon after. Cat allergen is a potent protein secreted by the cat's skin and salivary glands and the company claims the removal of the allergen will not harm the cats in any way. (read more...)
Mobile Telephone for Pets!
March 7, 2006 PetsMobility Networks' PetsCellular telephone for pets is a challenging concept. If at first glance, it seems incredibly frivolous to give an animal a cell phone, welcome to the 21 st century and the dawning of a new world of ubiquitous computing. Over the coming years we will be notionally challenged many times as microprocessors, wireless communications and sensors of all types weave a rich virtual remote global network of information about us, ours and our assets. The PetsCell is a 2-way communication device that will also be available with an optional GPS tracking chip and a fibre optic camera for search and rescue applications. (read more...)
A digital camera for dogs!
October 10, 2004 An interesting trend in high tech pet care seems to be developing. In recent times Gizmo has reported on the cat toilet training seat and the Bow-Lingual dog translation device. Now this week we have two new high tech products for pets - a cell phone and a digital camera. The 0.3 MPX Tomy Wonderful Shot camera straps on under the collar and at 38grams in weight and 55x52x12mm in size, is light enough to suit even the smallest pooch and perhaps even larger cats. (read more...)
Cats Allowed, but No Dogs
A cafe exclusively for cats and their owners opened on Fifth Avenue in new York recently offering cats - and the humans who think they own them - food, toys, games and Meow Mix merchandise for sale in a gift shop. The Meow Mix Company, the maker of dry cat food, opened the temporary Meow Mix Cafe in Midtown Manhattan to promote the company's first foray into the wet category of the cat-food market. The menu is centred on the new wet food, which comes in seven flavours and the snacks for the owners (beef, chicken and seafood dishes) correspond to the wet food flavours. (read more...)
Toilet training for cats
Yes folks, you saw it here first (unless you read the Red Ferret Journal or Engadget). The Catseat weans your cat off expensive litter then fits to your toilet seat and converts from toilet to litter tray at the press of a button. At US$110, the Catseat offers a compelling Return on Investment. Owners often spend thousands of dollars on litter over the lifetime of their beloved companions. Using kitty litter can be an expensive and unpleasant business, and one of the most vulnerable areas in a home's health regime. Cats need to step in the litter to use the litter tray and often track portions of the contents when they have finished, Then there's the changing and disposing of the contents regularly. (read more...)
Peppot Pet-Camera allows remote monitoring
For those among us who are very attached to their pet here's a great (and VERY expensive) way to check in on your cat/dog/budgie when you're not at home. The Matsushita Electric Works Peppot Pet-Camera has a built-in motion sensor which detects when your pet is within shot and can take pictures automatically and send them to your mobile phone. The pictures are only 100,000 pixels which is just as well, cause the wireless data costs will soon dwarf the Peppot's JPY 12,000 (AUD$150) price tag. (read more...)
Doggles provide dog protection, add style
October 4, 2004 They don't just look cool - Doggles are sunglasses for dogs who, like their human companions, can benefit from protection against foreign objects like bugs or grass seeds, wind and UV light. Ideal for dogs that like to get out and about, as well as those with eye disorders that may cause sensitivity to light, Doggles include shatterproof, anti-fog lenses with 100% of UV protection and two adjustable elastic straps to keep them secure during any activity. Doggles also feature foam padding for comfort and fit, a wrap-around design for full eye protection and are available in three sizes and six different designs to suit all canine shapes and tastes at a cost of around US$24.95 (read more...)
Fresh cat food and a de rigueur doghouse
Part of the Great Expectations British design showcase now on show in Melbourne, the Magis Dog House by Michael Young uses rotation moulded polyethylene to achieve its catching contemporary shape... (read more...)
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