Device Will Let Cats Talk

Robdar

I am the mother of five cats. I am not sure that I want to hear what the little ~~bastards~~ monsters are saying. Besides, I already know what they are saying: "Feed me", "Let me out", "Play with me" ,"Quit bogarting the catnip" and "Feed me".

Oh, and another thing, I am glad that God, in his wisdom, didn't give cats opposable thumbs. If he had, they would rule the world and not us.

From MSN:

http://msn.com.com/2100-1104_2-1026795.html?part=msn&subj=ns_1026795&tag=msn_home

Japanese toymaker Takara looks set to herald a new age of communication between humans and felines with a device which converts a cat's meows into human speech.

The Meowlingual, a gadget which gives cat owners Dr. Dolittle-like powers of discerning their pets' emotions, will be launched in Japan this November, a company spokeswoman told newswire AFP.

This announcement comes a year after the firm introduced a similar device--Bowlingual--which translates a dog's woofs into words through voice-pattern recognition.

Bowlingual consists of a wireless microphone that is attached to the dog's collar and a terminal which analyzes and matches each bark with a set of pre-programmed phrases. The device detects feelings--including happiness, frustration and sadness--and displays the associated expressions on the terminal's LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen.

Meowlingual is expected to work in a similar fashion, although for the half the cost of its canine predecessor.

The cat language translator device has a price tag of 8,800 yen (US$75), significantly less than the 14,800 yen (US120$) dog owners pay for Bowlingual, the report said. Despite the higher price, Takara said demand for the Bowlingual has outstripped supply, with over 300,000 units being sold six months after its launch last September. Since then, the device has been launched in South Korea and is now geared for its U.S. debut next month.

The firm now hopes to equal this success and aims to achieve the same sales tally for the Meowlingual by 2004, according to the report.

"We do not have an immediate plan to sell the product (the Meowlingual) overseas but this could be a possibility," the spokeswoman was quoted as saying.

OrbitingTheSun

When they talk, do they sound like Stephen Hawking?

Maybe some cats can use it to sing.

DFWnonJW

First off...FIVE cats? Yikes, as Felix would say. I once knew a girl that had 22 cats though. THAT was too many! Why do I visualize a line of cats waiting to use one of these machines. hmmmm

I would like to know what my one cat is thinking, I think. I'm sure it's usually about food though.

talesin

hmmm... sounds like a scam to me. only $75 US? too cheap to be real

on the other hand, don't you & your feline companions already converse? My dear (recently) departed kitty and I used to have lots of chat. People would mock this until they actually saw it in action.

DFWnonJW

Once upon a time one of my neighbors came back from the grocery store and started carrying the sacks in. Then she asked her cat to help out. He didn't say anything. She told him "Thomas, help me carry in the sacks of groceries." He didn't. She kept on at him though. Still no help. "Well F.U. then Thomas!" Didn't faze him. That is one cool headed cat.

RAYZORBLADE

This machine will probably contain some profanity as well:

TRANSLATE latest message:

CLEAN MY GODDAMN CATBOX, WILL YA?

Robdar

Maybe some cats can use it to sing.

LOL OTS, Oh, the ensuing caterwauling. Singing cats would be most annoying!

First off...FIVE cats?

DFW, yep. All except one (my alpha) were rescued from the shelter or had been abandoned and I took them in. I'm glad too because they are sweet cats.

I would like to know what my one cat is thinking, I think. I'm sure it's usually about food though.

Hehehe, I am sure you are right about that. Food and a good ear rub.

My dear (recently) departed kitty and I used to have lots of chat.

Talesin, Surprisingly, cats are good conversationalists. What did yall use to talk about? Food?

CLEAN MY GODDAMN CATBOX, WILL YA?

Hahahahahaha @ Rayzor!

Robyn

talesin

nah, she'd just enter the room, tell me what she wanted (feed me, change the litter, come to bed, let me out, etc.) and i'd do it. she just taught me enough kitty-speak to obey commands.

Robdar

she just taught me enough kitty-speak to obey commands.

LOL Talesin. For the most part, I understand kitty-speak. But they speak better English than I do kitty. So much for me being the "superior" mammal.

Robyn

El Kabong

My cats always seem to be asking for Meow Mix.

Device Will Let Cats Talk

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