News

AI-Powered App Can Tell You How Your Cat Is Feeling

The app can reach an accuracy of up to 97% when provided a high-quality and full-face front image of the cat.

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2021

Joanna Melki

ai-powered app can tell you how your cat is feeling

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Are you sometimes unsure whether your cat is tired or plotting your assassination? You’re not alone because cats don’t show their emotions too well.

That’s why scientists came up with something called the Feline Grimace Scale, a method of assessing the occurrence or severity of pain experienced by cats according to objective scoring of facial expressions. Now, an Alberta-based animal health technology company called Sylvester.ai has paired the Feline Grimace Scale with an artificial intelligence algorithm to create an app that can tell you how your cat is feeling.

The app is called Tably, and you can download it directly from the App Store. To use it, you simply need to point your smartphone’s camera at your furry friend and wait for a short while for the app to analyze a variety of facial features, including eye-narrowing, muzzle tension, and how whiskers change, to determine how your cat is feeling.

tably app screenshot

According to Michelle Priest, Tably senior product manager, the app can reach an accuracy of up to 97 percent when provided a high-quality and full-face front image of the cat. That’s good enough not only for concerned cat owners but also for young veterinarians, who may not have the experience necessary to tell whether a cat is feeling pain.

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The AI algorithm behind Tably was trained at the Wild Rose Cat Clinic of Calgary. “I love working with cats, have always grown up with cats,” said Dr. Liz Ruelle, DVM, DABVP Feline Specialist at the clinic. “For other colleagues, new grads, who maybe have not had quite so much experience, it can be very daunting to know — is your patient painful?”.

Tably is an excellent example of cutting-edge technology being used to positively impact the lives of those who don’t understand it themselves (although you never know with cats).

News

Viasat Satellite Messaging Tech Showcased In Saudi Arabia

The direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration highlighted the technology’s potential to revolutionize remote communication.

Published

4 days ago

November 28, 2024

Nour Nasir

viasat satellite messaging tech showcased in saudi arabia

Satellite communications firm Viasat announced yesterday that it had completed its first demonstration of direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity technology in Saudi Arabia. The live broadcast took place during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” event in Riyadh, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) alongside the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Attendees witnessed successful satellite-based two-way messaging and SOS alerts sent using commercial Android smartphones and a combination of Viasat’s robust L-band satellite network and the Bullitt over-the-top messaging app. Signals were transmitted using the company’s L-band spacecraft positioned over the Indian Ocean, while the infrastructure for 3GPP NTN services was deployed by Viasat’s partner Skylo.

Sandeep Moorthy, Viasat’s Chief Technical Officer, emphasized the significance of the demonstration, explaining, “By expanding our direct-to-device innovation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we’re showcasing the potential for D2D services in the fast-growing Gulf and Asia-Pacific region. D2D could help reduce barriers to connectivity in regions where terrestrial services are spotty and unavailable to help transform industries and supply chains, enable new opportunities, and to become more efficient, sustainable and safer. We’d like to thank the CST for their support in carrying out this exciting demonstration”.

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D2D technology allows devices like smartphones, vehicles, and industrial equipment to connect seamlessly to both satellite and terrestrial networks. Unlike traditional satellite setups, D2D eliminates the need for extra hardware, thanks to emerging global standards that are gaining traction among satellite operators, mobile network providers, and tech manufacturers.

What makes this approach particularly promising is that Viasat uses a licensed, dedicated satellite spectrum to deliver its D2D services. This avoids any interference with existing terrestrial networks, allowing smooth integration with mobile network operators in the future.

The demonstration clearly showed the potential of D2D technology to bridge connectivity gaps in remote regions while opening up opportunities for innovation, improved safety, sustainability, and efficiency.