METHOD FOR TRAINING ANIMALS TO INTERACT WITH ELECTRONIC SCREEN DEVICES

Abstract

The present invention relates to an advancement in a system and method of training animals. The process allows humans to use existing commercially-available tablet-based apps that were designed for inarticulate human children and specially train animals to use them in order to communicate about foods, beverages, activities, location preferences, feelings, and choice communication. The present system enables animals to utilize smart devices and enables them to choose the desired options from Yes/No and select the required item from the menus and sub menus. The system also allows humans to teach their animals emotion labels and time sequence communication skills so the animals can better communicate with their caregivers.

Claims

I: A system and method to train animals using smart devices comprising: A training system teaching humans to train their animals to use a simple screen-based device; a training system with a main menu and the option of sub-menus so that all animals are able to communicate using a communication board on a tablet or other interactive screen-based device; a training system providing the menus and submenus housed in a single device that does not require a large space and expands the opportunities for increased vocabulary and communication.

II: A system and method to train to touch the screen using a dual value treat reward system. The owner sets up the screen-device with a music, coloring, or painting program that provides visual or auditory feedback when the animal engages in an interactive touch behavior [FIG. 1]; The owner encourages the animal to touch the center of the screen using a lower-value (or smaller amount) treat reward at a frequent rate of reinforcement or by placing the food treat on the screen; When the animal touches the screen in a manner that elicits a response (auditory or visual); the owner additionally rewards the animal with a higher value (or greater quantity) treat reward until fluency is achieved with responsive touch interactions.

III: A system and method to train animals to request items on a touch screen device. The owner sets up the communication board with two symbols, a higher-value one such as a treat, and a lower-value symbol, such as a secondary treat or a neutral object [FIG. 2]; The owner trains the animal to touch a first (higher-value) symbol box and associates it with the real-life outcome (such as a higher-value treat) until the animal touches it fluently; The owner trains the animal to touch a second (lower-value) symbol box and associates it with a real-life outcome such as a lower-value treat) until the animal touches it fluently; The owner asks, “Which one do you want?” and allows the animal to select between the boxes to receive the real-life outcome they request until consistency is achieved and the animal is fluently requesting their highest-value outcome (such as the higher-value treat) at 70% or greater accuracy; (Optionally) the owner holds up a treat, and asks, “Which one?” to train the animal to discriminate between boxes. Once the animal demonstrates fluency on the first e.g., treat) box association discrimination, the owner holds up the second item (e.g., a second treat) and asks, “Which one?” likewise to ensure the animal has learned to associate the box with the second outcome; and (Optionally) the owner sets up a main menu and submenus with meaningful vocabulary for the animal and continues vocabulary training [FIG. 5].

IV: A system and method to train animals allowing them to communicate Yes or No comprising following steps: The owner sets up the communication board with yes and no symbols [FIG. 3]; The owner trains the animal to touch the “yes” symbol for a treat reward on cue until the animal touches it fluently; The owner trains the animal to touch the “no” symbol for a treat reward on cue until the animal touches it fluently; The owner asks, “Which one is yes?” and allows the animal to select between the boxes to select “yes” and receive a treat reward until consistency is achieved and the animal is fluently touching “yes” on cue with 70% or better accuracy; The owner asks, “Which one is no?” and allows the animal to select between the boxes to select “no” and receive a treat reward until consistency is achieved and the animal is fluently touching “no” with 70% or better accuracy on cue; The owner trains the animal to touch a high-value food reinforcer with a name label (e.g., “pine nut”) for a treat reward on cue until the animal touches it fluently; The owner trains the animal to touch a lower-value item with a name label (e.g., “water” when the animal is satiated) for a treat reward on cue until the animal touches it fluently; The owner asks, “Which one is [the food reinforcer]?” and allows the animal to select between the items to choose the food item and receive a treat reward until consistency is achieved and the animal is consistently selecting the food item between the two options on cue; The owner asks, “Which one is [the lower-value item]?” and allows the animal to select between the items to select the lower-value object and receive a treat reward until consistency is achieved and the animal is consistently selecting the lower-value object between the two options on cue; The owner then asks, “Do you want [trained food label]?” and allows the animal to select between the yes and no boxes on the communication board, training the animal to select the “yes” box for the trained food label. The owner repeats this method to associate the “no” box for the lower-value object; The owner generalizes the training to other label-trained high value and lower-value items until fluency is demonstrated with yes and no question responses; and The owner corroborates the yes and no questions by asking follow-up questions and with body language consistency to ensure high fidelity in communication, and then optionally adds the symbols to the screen-based communication board [FIG. 4].

V: A system and method to train animals allowing them to communicate their feelings: The owner sets up the communication board with feeling symbols (e.g., happy, sad, mad, afraid, excited, calm, sleepy) [FIG. 6]; For each feeling label, the owner observes 1) a behavioral repertoire (e.g. for “excited” in a parrot, wings spread, bobbing torso, specific vocalization, relaxed facial feathers), and 2) three trigger labels (e.g., “Grandma,” “Dad,” and “outside”); Using the animal's primary source of information input (visual, auditory, touch, taste, or olfactory), the owner trains the animal to develop symbol-based vocabulary; Through associative conditioning, the owner teaches the animal the word labels for one feeling label's triggers (e.g., “excited” behavior repertoire and label—Grandma as associated with a particular human, Dad as associated with a different human, outside as associated with a location); The owner similarly teaches the animal the word labels for another feeling label's triggers (e.g., “happy” behavior repertoire and label treat as associated with a high value food item, chew toy as associated with a particular toy, pet as associated with physical affection); Once the owner has taught: the animal three word labels for each feeling state, the owner teaches the feeling as a category by stating (e.g.) “You feel excited about grandma!” and targeting the animal to touch the EXCITED label on the communication board for several repetitions until fluency is achieved. The owner repeats the associative conditioning with the other two trigger labels by stating “You feel excited about outside!” and “You feel excited about Dad!” until fluency is achieved with the animal pressing the excited label when cued “How do you feel about . . . ” trigger words; The owner repeats this training with the next feeling state category (e.g., happy as associated with treat, chew toy, and ball); The owner offers a discrimination task, asking “How do you feel about . . . ” (e.g., ball) and offering the communication board to the animal. If the animal selects happy, the owner rewards the animal, if the animal selects excited, the owner withdraws the communication board for a period of 1-3 seconds and then recces for up to two attempts; If the animal answers incorrectly on multiple cues, the owner repeats the feeling label training until fluency is achieved; Once the animal demonstrates fluency on “How do you feel about, . . . ?” questions on trained and feeling-associated vocabulary, the owner generalizes the training to other trained labels until fluency is demonstrated with feeling-label responses; and The owner corroborates the animal's feeling state responses with body language/feeling behavior repertoire consistency to ensure high fidelity in communication.

VI: A system and method to train animals allowing them to communicate about yesterday-today-tomorrow time sequences: The owner sets up the communication hoard with time symbol labels for yesterday, today, and tomorrow; Using the animal's primary source of information input (visual, auditory, touch, taste, or olfactory), the owner trains the animal to develop symbol-based vocabulary; Through associative conditioning, the owner trains the animal on vocabulary symbol labels for three activities that the animal enjoys (e.g., beach, walk, and etch); On the first training day, the owner engages the animal in the first labeled activity, such as a beach visit; On the second training day, the owner engages the animal in the second activity, such as a walk. The owner uses associative conditioning to associate the walk label with the symbol today. The owner also associates the beach label with the symbol yesterday. Finally, the owner associates the third activity label, fetch, with the symbol tomorrow. The owner also offers a discrimination task on the activity labels associated with the time labels by (e.g.) asking, “Which one is walk?” and training the animal to press the today, label and repeating the discrimination task with the other vocabulary to ensure the animal has achieved fluency in the associative conditioning; On the third training day, the owner engages the animal in the third activity, such as a fetch. The owner uses associative conditioning to associate the fetch label with the symbol today. The owner also associates the walk label with the symbol yesterday. Finally, the owner associates the first activity label, beach, with the symbol tomorrow. The owner also offers a discrimination task on the activity labels associated with the time labels by (e.g.) asking, “Which one is walk?,” training the animal to press the yesterday, “Which one is fetch?,” training the animal to press the today label, and “Which one is beach?,” training the animal to press the tomorrow label to ensure the animal has achieved fluency in the associative conditioning; On the fourth training day, the owner engages the animal in the first activity again, such as a beach visit. The owner uses associative conditioning to associate the beach label with the symbol today. The owner also associates the fetch label with the symbol yesterday. Finally, the owner associates the second activity label, walk, with the symbol tomorrow. The owner also offers a discrimination task on the activity labels associated with the time labels by (e.g.) asking, “Which one is fetch?,” training the animal to press the yesterday, “Which one is beach?,” training the animal to press the today label, and “Which one is walk?,” training the animal to press the tomorrow label to ensure the animal has achieved fluency in the associative conditioning; and When the animal has achieved fluency in pressing the correct time labels for activities two days in a row, the training is concluded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a sample image of a parrot touching a dot on the screen using a commercially-available tablet app.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a sample image of a parrot selecting a treat box on a commercially-available tablet-based communication app.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a sample image of a parrot learning “Yes” and “No” symbols using red and green pipe cleaners.

[0028] FIG. 4. illustrates a sample image of a parrot using “Yes” and “No” on a commercially-available tablet-based communication app.

[0029] FIG. 5. illustrates a sample image of a tablet-based communication app main menu.

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a sample image of a tablet-based communication app emotion label menu.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0033] A communication gap often exists between humans and non-human animals. Due to lack of ability to understand one another, animals often develop behavior problems and experience frustration. Caregivers also feel frustrated because they don't know what their animal wants.

[0034] To date, there are no processes designed for teaching animals to communicate using a tablet, cell phone, or other electronic touchscreen device. There exists a mechanical button system designed to be used with dogs. Several limitations of any mechanical button system is the space needed, the inability of some animals to navigate the maze of buttons, the inability of some animals to press a button, and the lack of flexibility of presentation.

[0035] The proposed revolutionary training system teaches humans to train their animals to use a simple touchscreen device with menus and sub-menus so that all animals (including animals who are unable to push with pressure or who have mobility-limitations) are able to communicate using a communication board on a tablet. Additionally, the menus and submenus are housed in a single device and do not require much space in the house, nor costly buttons for purchase, which greatly expands the opportunities for increased vocabulary and communication.

[0036] In one aspect of the present invention, the current invention discloses a method of using a tablet, cell phone, or other touch-screen device, allowing to teach animals to communicate with humans by using communication board apps and programs.

[0037] The proposed method as per its preferred embodiments allows humans to also use existing commercially-available tablet-based apps that were designed for inarticulate human children and specially train animals to use them in order to communicate about foods, beverages, activities, location preferences, feelings, and choice communication.

[0038] The process as per its further embodiments also teaches owners to train their animals on yes-no, time-sequence, and emotion state communication symbols for enhanced communication skills.

[0039] The method as per its further embodiments utilizes apps and computer programs presented on a tablet, television, or other electronic screen that have built-in voice generated speech. The training steps include the following steps where the owner sets up the communication board with symbols to represent real-world outcomes. The owner trains the animal to first touch a treat-symbol box until the animal touches it fluently. After this the owner trains the animal to touch a second treat-symbol box until the animal touches it fluently.

[0040] The owner as per its further embodiments holds up a treat, and asks, “Which one [is this]?” to train the animal to discriminate between boxes. Once the animal demonstrates fluency on the first treat-box association discrimination, the owner holds up the second treat and asks, “Which one?” likewise to ensure the animal has learned to associate the second box with the correct food outcome. Finally, the owner asks, “Which one do you want?” and allows the animal to select between the boxes to receive the treat they request.

[0041] The system includes as per its further embodiments menus and submenus which are housed in a single device and do not require much space in the house which greatly expands the opportunities for increased vocabulary and communication.

[0042] While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional features may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used.

[0043] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0044] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.