Special Issue on Multimodal Technologies in Animal–Computer Interaction

Journal of Multimodal Technologies and Interaction
Special issue on Multimodal Technologies in Animal-Computer Interaction
Guest editors: Dr. Naohisa Ohta, Dr. Clara Mancini, Dr. Jake Veasey

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2018

Call for papers

Animals have been exposed to, and have interacted with, technology for the better part of a century; for example, in conservation activities, behavioural experiments, comparative cognition studies, precision farming, and in various support roles. At the crossroad between interaction design, on the one hand, and animal behavioural and welfare science, on the other, Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) is a rapidly-growing field of research concerned with the interaction between animals and computing-enabled technology from an animal-centered perspective. Integrating a variety of multidisciplinary approaches, ACI aims to:

  • Investigate the interaction between animals and technology in naturalistic settings, with regards to specific animal activities or interspecies relations
  • Develop user-centered technology that can: Improve animals’ welfare by enabling the fulfillment of their needs; support animals in tasks humans might ask of them; foster interspecies relationships
  • Inform interdisciplinary user-centered approaches that can enable animals to participate in the design process as legitimate stakeholders and contributors.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to bring together state-of-the-art research articles on the use and potential of multimedia and multimodal interfaces for animal-centred applications and interactions. These might aim to improve animal welfare, foster interspecies relationships or support the development of animal-centred research methods, in relation to laboratory, farm, companion or wild animals. We invite original research articles, works in progress, surveys, and reviews. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Animal Behavior and Multimodal Technology in ACI
  • Interaction Multimodality Design for ACI
  • Multisensory Technology for ACI
  • Multimedia Technology for ACI
  • Multimodal Design Solutions for ACI Applications
  • Multimodal Technology as Methodological Tool in ACI