(NewsNation) — Touchscreens, ubiquitous in human life, are now under the spotlight for their potential benefits to animals, particularly parrots, in a recent study conducted by Northeastern University.
The researchers had 20 pet birds, ranging from small parakeets to large macaws, play a simple tablet game involving tapping colored circles. The goal was to establish guidelines for designing touchscreen tech intended for parrots’ use, Northeastern Global News reported.
“Cognitive enrichment is a crucial component for parrot health and well-being, and tablet games are one method of providing this enrichment,” said Megan McMahon, an undergraduate who worked on the study told Northeastern Global News. “Designing apps specifically made for birds and their unique touchscreen tendencies makes this form of enrichment more accessible.”
Over three months, the parrots played the game at home with help from owners, using their beaks and tongues. Data collected showed parrots primarily use their tongues on touchscreens, meaning their eyes are much closer than humans’. This made them less accurate, especially with small targets.
There was also high variation based on each bird’s size, with smaller parrots struggling more. But some surprised researchers with their speed.
“Some parrots could touch the tablet up to 41 times in a row, resulting in a touch every few milliseconds,” Northeastern assistant professor Rébecca Kleinberger who led the study told Northeastern Global News. “This …is a good example of how studying animals’ bodies can inform the design of new interfaces to empower animals.”
The findings illustrate both the potential of touchscreens to enrich parrots’ lives and the need to adapt tech for their distinct traits and abilities.
Previous research by Kleinberger’s team showed parrots can video call each other using touchscreens. Owner surveys after the latest study found the tablet game was a positive bonding experience for birds and humans alike.
While cautioning against overuse, the researchers see opportunities for parrot-friendly touchscreen tech, which could bring more scientific data to the burgeoning “pet tech” market.
“My goal is for these insights not only to benefit the pet tech industry but also to offer valuable guidance to the wider research community, technology developers, [and] pet owners,” Kleinberger told Northeastern Global News.
