Official News page 6

REAL LIFE NEWS: W-FI PLUS CAMERA PLUS POOCH GIVES US DOGCAM

by Hazed

What a great idea - attach a camera to a dog and watch where it goes, seeing everything it sees. But actually this idea is intended to save lives.

The plan is that the dogs should accompany search and rescue teams. They can get into places humans can't, to search out people trapped after an earthquake or other disaster, and what they see will be broadcast back to their handlers. Fit them with speakers and the human part of the team will be able to talk to the people they find and reassure them that help is on the way.

Paws - the cute acronym stands for Portable, All-terrain, Wireless - has been developed by a firm in the UK, Wood & Douglas, which specializes in wireless broadcast technology applications. The firm has been demonstrating its prototype Paws system using a mock disaster zone, a section of land strewn with securely fastened debris.

The challenge was to come up with equipment that could be attached to a dog without the animal becoming upset - and then training the dogs to see the rescuing as a fun game.

If these challenges can be overcome the technology could be a life-saver - literally.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16408904.

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