Pets

If you own a dog or a cat and are having a hard day at work, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to take a break and play with them? Well, if you’ve got the money, now you can do it – via the internet. A consumer version of a system already in use at some U.S. animal shelters, iPet Companion Home Version lets computer users remotely control dog or cat toys located in their home, watching their pets reacting to those toys’ movements in real time. For some people, it could be the biggest workplace distraction since Facebook. Read More

The humble dog collar might seem like something that couldn't really be improved upon in any significant way, but ... what if you combined it with a leash? Well, what you'd end up with is the Supercollar. It's a polypropylene collar, with a three-foot (0.9-meter) retractable leash built into it. Perhaps not necessary in all situations, but there a few where it might come in handy. Read More

It seems to be one of those “well-known facts” that petting an animal can lower a person’s blood pressure – and yes, we’re assuming that the animal isn’t a piranha. Unfortunately, many people are unable to own a pet, or they at least have to spend their stressful workday away from their cuddly critter. A new system called iPet Companion, however, lets users play with real, live cats – in real time – via the internet. Read More

Sony’s Aibo may be discontinued, but robotic pets of all shapes and sizes continue to stake a claim in the hearts of people around the world. Despite the apparent intelligence of some of these robot pets, their behavior and actions are usually nothing more than pre-programmed responses to stimuli – being patted in a particular location or responding to a voice command, for example. Real flesh and blood pets are much more complex in this regard, even discerning and responding to a person’s emotional state. Robotic pets could be headed in that direction, with researchers in Taiwan turning to neural networks to help them break the cycle of repetitive behavior in robot toys and endow them with almost emotional responses to interactions. Read More

Dogs make great pets - they are loyal, playful, enjoy being outdoors and are fairly easy to care for. But one job most people would happily give up (apart from poop-scooping!) is cleaning out and filling up the dog’s drink bowl. That’s why the Doggie Fountain is instantly appealing – not only does it provide your pet with clean, fresh water – once installed, you won’t have to lift a finger because it runs on pooch power. Read More

Hoping to capitalize on over-protective pet owners (like myself!), Softbank is rolling out its innovative – and admittedly cute – Mimamori Camera. This clever pet monitoring system allows you to keep tabs on your pet remotely via your mobile phone, all in real time using a Japanese handset's 'TV call' function. Read More

This is pure genius. Lieben, a company based in Japan, has created an umbrella that will keep your dog nice and dry when you walk him on a rainy day. The concept is surprisingly simple. It looks like a regular umbrella, but the canopy is inverted so that when you point it downwards it's actually right-side up. The umbrella is transparent as well so as to not impede the dog's vision. Read More

The Pet Pooch Power System is a clever, cordless vacuum cleaner that deals with your dog’s mess. Its long handle means you won’t have to bend down to scoop up the waste and once collected, it’s deposited neatly into a biodegradable plastic bag for easy disposal. Read More

Mattel's Puppy Tweets is a new gadget that allows your pet to send you a cutesy tweet via Twitter every time they move, bark or sleep. The device is pre-loaded with over 500 phrases that are designed to put an amusing spin on a mundane activity. Your pet barks - you get a message saying - “I bark because I miss you. There I said it. Now hurry home.” Read More