Furbo: An Interactive Dog Camera That Lets You Talk to Your Pet and Dispense Treats
Pet cams are nothing new, but imagine instead of simply sitting at your desk monitoring your dog, you could reward him for good behavior or even talk to him? All that and more is available through Furbo, “an interactive dog camera with a connected app that lets you see, talk, and even give treats to your dog when you’re away.” The device comes from Seattle-based startup Tomofun and works using two-way audio, wide-angle live HD video streaming, barking alerts, and an interactive treat tosser, all controlled through a simple app.
Co-creator Maggie Cheung recently told Metro about the thinking behind Furbo:
As a dog parent, the toughest part of my day used to be the moment when I would leave for work. My 8-year-old poodle would cry and give me the saddest puppy eyes that just broke my heart. I needed a solution that allowed me to truly interact with him when he’s feeling lonely at home. That’s why our team created Furbo as a simple way to help dog parents keep close to their furry loved ones.
The team achieved this by creating the innovative treat popper, which, unlike other devices, throws the treat across the room so the dog can fetch it. Furbo also stimulates a dog’s specific audible and optical receptors so he knows when the camera is active. For example, when a treat is ready to pop out, the area lights up in a cool blue that they respond to, as well as makes a clicking noise like the devices used by profession trainers. There are also fun, added components, like photo and video storage that can be uploaded directly to social media. More of a cat person? Furbo works for felines, too.
Furbo is currently available for pre-order through IndieGoGo (where the creators far exceeded their funding goals) for a special price of $139. It will normally sell for $239.
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