Researchers devise tool for understanding dog barks, sort of

We've no idea what's up with Europe and its admittedly zany fascination with canine research, but not even two months after a team of Austrians claimed to have trained a litter to use computers, a crew from Hungary is now trumpeting its dog translation software. More specifically, Csaba Molnár (and colleagues) from Eötvös Loránd University have reportedly been able to create an application that can "identify and differentiate the acoustic features of dog barks, and classify them according to different contexts and individual dogs." The gurus began by feeding some 6,000 barks from 14 Hungarian sheepdogs in a half dozen situations to a computer, and during analysis, it was able to correctly classify the barks between 40 and 50-percent of the time. Granted, that's a heck of a lot better than any of us could do, so we suppose we can't yelp about the results too much.

[Via TGDaily, image courtesy of CalgaryAgility]

[majortom @ Jan 17th 2008 9:00AM]

This is nothing new. In the early 60's Timmy, who was always down in someone's well, communicated quite effectively with Lassie; and that only took a couple of barks. American dogs might be smarter.

[Flit @ Jan 17th 2008 9:18AM]

Hey! Hey! Hey hey hey! Hey! Hey!

[BobTheMonkey @ Jan 17th 2008 10:39AM]

@flit

That's exactly the first thing I thought of, too.

http://www.modernpooch.com/archives/FarSideDogCartoon.jpg

[Rjay @ Jan 17th 2008 11:26AM]

I also have learned to speak dog language. When they whimper they are hungry, when they bark ferociously they are angry, and when they howl at the full moon they are metamorphosing into a werewolf.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jan 17th 2008 1:02PM]

My parent's dog is pretty communicative. She stands by the door and barks. "Let me out dammit!" She brings the stuffed frog to you and barks. "Throw the frog dammit!" She paws the fridge and barks. "Feed me dammit!" The UPS guy knocks on the door, and she barks. "GTFO!" I come over and she barks at me. "OMFG! It's YOU!!!!"

Basically it's just dog cursing.

[Jesse S @ Jan 17th 2008 2:37PM]

I thought of this:

http://posters.imdb.com/title/tt0968722/

[Jason @ Jan 17th 2008 9:03AM]

Wolves don't bark, it gives no competitive advantage. But puppies/cubs bark, and we might have bred barking into dogs as early warning alarms. If that's the case barking isn't communicating past "alarm! alarm! alarm!".

But if you learn "doglish", the body language of dogs, you start to understand very clearly what they're trying to communicate. Barking is only the expletives.

Basically these researchers are limiting themselves to translating dog cursing.

[Frun @ Jan 17th 2008 9:10AM]

Bark Bark Bark woof woof
(I just ate my own poop)

[Flashpoint @ Jan 17th 2008 9:16AM]

WOW
Pretty soon we'll have "Bark-to-Text" messaging and "Bark Dialing" on cellphones and "Text-to-Bark" GPS Navigation systems.

[Andy G. @ Jan 17th 2008 9:18AM]

Your dog wants steak.

[Xanatos451 @ Jan 17th 2008 11:07AM]

This.

[Adoniteking @ Jan 17th 2008 9:22AM]

*Takes dog to park and uses devise tool on BARKS*

Translation: "Damn YOU HUMANS! ingrates of the mammal species. You think i enjoy playing FETCH! Belittling my essence of existence by tossing objects to have me bring it back when you had it with you in the first place. who the F*** do you think i am..snoopy? Be glad we have been programmed to do your bidding because if i could stand on two paws, i would like to see you catch a freezbie tossed 2metres high just for the fun of it cos it would make me feel f**kin great!"

ME: O_O

*silence*

dog: "oh shit! did i just say that out loud!..erm..BARK! BARK!"

[Patrick @ Jan 17th 2008 9:54AM]

let's see. my dog only really ever "says" one of 3 things:

1. i'm hungry
2. rub my belly
3. let me out or i'm going to pee on your carpet

i'll pass on the translator. i'm pretty sure i can understand him more than 40%-50% of the time, although it's embarassing when i confuse #2 and #3....

[fashionista @ Jan 17th 2008 10:03AM]

I don't really need a dog translation... my dog may be reciting the Gettysburg Address for all I know, I hear "I ruv u, shaggy". I just throw the ball and serve the treats.

[DT @ Jan 17th 2008 10:18AM]

"Let's play red rocket!"

[Wayne @ Jan 17th 2008 10:30AM]

Reminds me of the device Homer Simpson's brother created that could understand babies.

[Reader @ Jan 17th 2008 10:30AM]

This is no match for the dog whisperer.

[crunkMonkey101 @ Jan 17th 2008 10:32AM]

How did they "verify" the results 40-50% of the time.

"Bark Bark."
Did you say "Feed me?"
"Bark"
Was that a "Yes"?

[Blaktornado @ Jan 17th 2008 11:12AM]

Yes... because my dog is going to tell me really important and crucial things...

[Matty @ Jan 17th 2008 11:12AM]

"Granted, that's a heck of a lot better than any of us could do"

Actually I caught an interview with the lead researcher on Fresh Air yesterday. He said when humans were brought in to identify the barks they had the same success rate as their software. Progress!!!!!

[David @ Jan 17th 2008 11:45AM]

I already have one of these. It's called the BowLingual. It lets me know when my dog wants to dance or is frustrated or on-guard. Basically the same as the "Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!"

[newgalactic @ Jan 17th 2008 12:14PM]

There was a Far Side comic about this years ago. A dogs bark is roughly translated into "Hay!!!".

"Bark, Bark, Bark!" = "Hay, Hay, Hay!"

[Whingnut @ Jan 17th 2008 12:21PM]

Just think, we'll only need women for sex after this. Once we can talk with our dogs, putting up with their nagging strictly out of need for companionship will no longer be necessary. ;)

[Azerial @ Jan 17th 2008 1:59PM]

Thats a cute dog.

[leo f @ Jan 17th 2008 4:14PM]

yeah this was already done years ago in japan.it's called bowlingual (bow is the equivalent of bark in japanese). there's also a cat version called meowlingual as well. they were quite popular when they first launched in japan. and they were created in much the same way the product in this article was.

[Tyler @ Jan 17th 2008 4:49PM]

A translator has been on the market for quite some time...

[ndroberts77 @ Jan 17th 2008 6:17PM]

What's that? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the entire wheel of cheese? I'm not even mad. I'm impressed.

[Astropods @ Jan 18th 2008 7:28AM]

Dog now: "Bark bark bark!"

Me now: "Shut up!"

Dog with expensive translator: "Can I go to the Park?"

Me then: "Shut up!"