| Bark-Translator Plans Gadget For Cat | 1 comment |
  24 Jul 2003 @ 07:31, by Raymond PowersMore fodder for the landfills. "We are Spirits, in the material world" - The Police (Sting) Bark-Translator Plans Gadget For Cat The Japanese manufacturers of a gadget that claims to translate dogs barks into human language is planning a similar device for cats. After selling 300,000 Bowlingual units, Takara is set to release the Meowlingual. The cat-shaped machine set to go on sale in November and translates meows and purrs into human phrases, although exact wording hasn't been decided yet. The translation device will likely sell for £45, slightly cheaper than the $75 Bowlingual, which has been a big hit. Both gadgets use scientific data on animal sounds from a Tokyo laboratory that also analyses human voices, helps solve crime and takes part in designing software for mobile phones. Takara plans to start selling Bowlingual in the United States in August. Overseas sales plans for Meowlingual are still undecided. "Cats are smaller and more finicky than dogs so we had to change the design a little," Takara spokeswoman Maiko Hasumi said. The feline version won't strap on the collar as does the Bowlingual, and a person must hold the microphone in the machine up to the cat's mouth and hope it says something, she said. In case your cat's not in the mood, the machine will have "playful features," such as a horoscope reading for cat lovers and other surprises in the works, she said. Takara is planning to sell 300,000 Meowlingual machines by March 2004. |