Project description
Smart tech designed for animals
The quality of life of animals can be significantly improved through smart technology that gives animals more control over their surroundings. In this case, computer interfaces should be designed with animals in mind. For instance, traditional touch screens will not work for paws and beaks. The ERC-funded FUTUREFAUNA project aims to develop and adapt technologies for animals based on empirical evidence. The goal is to transform how animals control their environment and enhance their well-being through new social connections. It will be possible to better understand their decision-making, problem-solving, and social interactions when provided with appropriate tools. This approach enhances traditional animal behaviour research, opening new avenues for using information technology to investigate animal intelligence and social structures.
Objective
Technology can enhance animal welfare by allowing animals greater control over their environment and choice over their social connections. Current animal-computer interfaces are often repurposed from human technology, neglecting animals' diverse physical capabilities, sensory perceptions, and cognitive processes. For instance, touch screens suited to human fingers pose challenges for animals with paws, beaks, or unique appendages, while human-based cognitive models underlying these interfaces potentially misinterpret or overlook critical aspects of animal cognition and behaviour. This disconnect between technology and animal users hinders effective interaction and constrains our capacity to gain accurate insights into animal minds.
To address this challenge, FUTUREFAUNA's ultimate goal is to draw from empirical evidence to develop a comprehensive framework for designing, implementing and adapting technologies for animal users. The ambition is to fundamentally reshape how animals implement control over their environment and provide radically different opportunities for social connections to improve their well-being. This level of agency will allow us new ways to observe how animals make choices, solve problems, and navigate social situations when given tools that match their abilities. FUTUREFAUNA framework extends classic animal behaviour studies by offering new insights and scalable, documented approach.
In the long term, FUTUREFAUNA will open up a new frontier to expand the use of information technology. It tests the foundations of human-computer interaction by looking at new ways to understand users and creating entirely new avenues for studying animal intelligence and social structures. By providing animals with more nuanced and species-appropriate ways to interact with their environment and each other, researchers will be able to explore questions about animal consciousness, emotional intelligence, and cognitive flexibility that were previously out of reach.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
G12 8QQ Glasgow
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.