Assignment

Create a technical working prototype that allows a human to experience animal senses, locomotion or other animal processes.

Motivation

The domesticated dog is often referred to as the human's best friend and plays an important role in the daily lives of many people. Dogs are often considered and treated by their guardians as quasi-humans and members of the family, thus being attributed human-like characteristics. This anthropomorphic view is extremely problematic, as it leads to misinterpretation of the pet’s behaviour, which may lead to incorrect or inappropriate treatment.

Concept

By using different media, Houndview tries to apply the concept of "animal-centric-anthropomorphism", to let guardians take the perspective of their animals and give them an understanding of their pet's reality of life - with the aim of improving the specific understanding of the species, cultivating empathy and, ultimately, increasing the pet's quality of life. In order to achieve this, the dog's sense of sight is translated into a format that can be experienced by humans. In this way, the guardian can take on the perspective of his dog, re-experience the environment already familiar to him, and draw conclusions about his behaviour and his role in the relationship to his pet.

Execution