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Interspecies Interactions Mediated by Technology: An Avian Case Study at the Zoo

Authors:

Rébecca Kleinberger,

Anne H. K. Harrington,

Akito van Troyer,

Janet M. Baker,

Gabriel MillerAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '20: Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Pages 1 - 12

https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376858

Published: 23 April 2020 Publication History

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Abstract

Enrichment is a methodology for caregivers to offer zoo animals improved psychological and physiological well-being. Although many species rely on auditory senses, sonic enrichment is rarely implemented. Zoo soundscapes are dominated by human-generated noises and do not respond meaningfully to animals' behavior. Designing interactive sonic enrichment systems for animals presents unique ergonomic, ethical, and agency-related challenges. We present a case study of such design. We deployed two novel interventions at the San Diego Zoo to allow Sampson, a music-savvy hyacinth macaw, to gain control over his sonic environment. Our results suggest that (1) the bird uses, understands, and benefits from the system, and (2) visitors play a major role in Sampson's engagement with this technology. With his new agency, the bird seemingly gains more control over his interactions with the public, creating an interspecies experience mediated by technology. The resulting animal-human-computer interaction may inform mediated interspecies experiences in the future.

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Cited By

Le Covec MDi Stasi RAimé CBouet LWatanabe SBovet D(2024)Do Cockatiels Choose Their Favourite Tunes? Use of Touchscreen for Animal Welfare Enhancement and Insights into Musical PreferencesAnimals10.3390/ani1424360914:24(3609)Online publication date: 14-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243609
Mastali AMayo BRamey CElgart NMiller KJackson M(2024)Play That Trunky Music: Development of an Auditory Enrichment Device for Elephants in ZoosProceedings of the International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction10.1145/3702336.3702343(1-14)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3702336.3702343
Ashooh LHirskyj-Douglas IKleinberger R(2024)Surveying The Extent of Demographic Reporting of Animal Participants in ACI ResearchProceedings of the International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction10.1145/3702336.3702339(1-7)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2024
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Index Terms

Interspecies Interactions Mediated by Technology: An Avian Case Study at the Zoo
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Human computer interaction (HCI)
    1. HCI design and evaluation methods
      1. User studies
    2. Interaction devices
      1. Haptic devices

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cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '20: Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

April 2020

10688 pages

ISBN:9781450367080

DOI:10.1145/3313831

General Chairs:
Regina Bernhaupt
Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
,
Florian 'Floyd' Mueller
Monash University, Australia
,
David Verweij
Newcastle University, UK
,
Josh Andres
RMIT, Australia
,
Program Chairs:
Joanna McGrenere
University of British Columbia, Canada
,
Andy Cockburn
University of Canterbury, New Zealand
,
Ignacio Avellino
University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA
,
Alix Goguey
Grenoble Alpes University, France
,
Pernille Bjørn
University of Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Shengdong (Shen) Zhao
National University of Singapore, Singapore
,
Briane Paul Samson
Future University Hakodate, Japan & De La Salle University, Philippines
,
Rafal Kocielnik
University of Washington, USA

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Published: 23 April 2020

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Cited By

Le Covec MDi Stasi RAimé CBouet LWatanabe SBovet D(2024)Do Cockatiels Choose Their Favourite Tunes? Use of Touchscreen for Animal Welfare Enhancement and Insights into Musical PreferencesAnimals10.3390/ani1424360914:24(3609)Online publication date: 14-Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243609
Mastali AMayo BRamey CElgart NMiller KJackson M(2024)Play That Trunky Music: Development of an Auditory Enrichment Device for Elephants in ZoosProceedings of the International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction10.1145/3702336.3702343(1-14)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3702336.3702343
Ashooh LHirskyj-Douglas IKleinberger R(2024)Surveying The Extent of Demographic Reporting of Animal Participants in ACI ResearchProceedings of the International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction10.1145/3702336.3702339(1-7)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3702336.3702339
Kleinberger RCunha JMcMahon MHirskyj-Douglas I(2024)No More Angry Birds: Investigating Touchscreen Ergonomics to Improve Tablet-Based Enrichment for ParrotsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642119(1-16)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642119
Syiem BWebber SKelly RZhou QGoncalves JVelloso E(2024)Augmented Reality at Zoo Exhibits: A Design Framework for Enhancing the Zoo ExperienceProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642015(1-18)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642015
Hirskyj-Douglas ICunha JKleinberger R(2024)Call of the Wild Web: Comparing Parrot Engagement in Live vs. Pre-Recorded Video CallsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641938(1-14)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3641938
Williams EHunton VHosey GWard S(2023)The Impact of Visitors on Non-Primate Species in Zoos: A Quantitative ReviewAnimals10.3390/ani1307117813:7(1178)Online publication date: 28-Mar-2023
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071178
Chang FGu ZShi ZTang W(2023)Advancing Cattle Health Monitoring through ACI-Driven Wearable Sensor Technology: A Case Study of Leg-Worn System DevelopmentProceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction10.1145/3637882.3637893(1-13)Online publication date: 4-Dec-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3637882.3637893
Grant AKankaanpää VHirskyj-Douglas I(2023)Hum-ble Beginnings: Developing Touch- and Proximity-Input-Based Interfaces for Zoo-Housed Giraffes’ Audio EnrichmentProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36264707:ISS(175-197)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2023
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Webber SKelly RWadley GSmith W(2023)Engaging with Nature through Technology: A Scoping Review of HCI ResearchProceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3544548.3581534(1-18)Online publication date: 19-Apr-2023
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