Rébecca Kleinberger, From DJ Macaw to Video-Flocking

September 2, 2023, 15:00 BST/ 10:00 EDT/ 07:00 PST (3pm BST/ 10am EDT/ 7am PST)

From DJ Macaw to Video-Flocking: Leveraging Audio Technology for Animal’s Social and Cognitive Enrichment.

In this presentation, Dr. Rébecca Kleinberger will present her research work at the intersection of new technology, animal-computer interaction, and the sonic environment. Drawing upon her extensive collaborative work with zoos, wildlife specialists, and conservation centers, Dr. Kleinberger's work primarily targets the enhancement of life for animals in managed care through auditory technological interventions.

The presentation will dive into a series of projects, including the 'Joy Branch', a physical interface allowing a Macaw to control its sonic surroundings; the TamagoPhone a specialized incubator facilitating vocal interaction between avian parents and their eggs during artificial incubation, a full-duplex underwater apparatus to converse with cetaceans, and a real-time acoustic monitoring system for the classification of giant panda vocalizations. Dr. Kleinberger will also present her recent work on "Birds of a Feather Video-Flock Together," a video-calling system for parrots that has gained recognition for its contribution to interspecies ethical enrichment.

Through these examples, this talk proposes insights and principles to establish foundational guidelines and insights for leveraging technological interventions to enhance the cognitive and social experiences of animals in managed care.

Dr. Rébecca Kleinberger's work intersects new technology, animal-computer interaction, and the sonic world. As a Creative Technologist, an Associate Professor at Northeastern University, and an Affiliate Researcher at MIT, her lab draws on ten years of experience in designing, deploying and evaluating technological interventions to improve animal welfare and wellbeing. Her research transcends conventional boundaries, integrating elements from voice technology to provide meaningful enhancements in various animal habitats and experiences, from zoological and farming contexts to home settings and the wilderness. Underlying her work is a commitment to cognitive and social enrichment for animals, leveraging technology to enhance their quality of life and broaden our understanding of interspecies connection.

A recording of the session can be seen below.