Canine-centered Computing

Book excerpt: Canines and humans have lived together for many thousands of years, to our mutual benefit. In addition to providing companionship, dogs can perform critical roles, such as assisting humans with medical concerns, searching for lost individuals, and detecting substances by scent. Researching how technology might be designed for canines has the potential to significantly improve the lives of both dogs and humans. We draw upon the extensive foundations and literature in human-centered computing to identify and adapt models and methods that are relevant for canines. Our work surveys the landscape of canine-centered computing and canine psychophysics, and generates a framework and set of guidelines to help inform the requirements, design, and evaluation of systems for canines. Our principal aim is to invite and challenge human computer interaction (HCI) researchers to contribute to the field of canine-centered computing, and we conclude with a call to action in this promising nascent field.