Canines have been partners of humans since the beginning of time, and no other animal knows humans better than canines. Canines observe humans and their surroundings and help us when in trouble. They also communicate with us by reading our facial expressions and behavior and by interacting with us. The term "communication" is used here in the sense of "communicating with each other" or "appearing to communicate with each other." Although canines and humans are different species, they build a trusting relationship as partners through communication. Understanding this mysterious relationship between canines and humans will significantly contribute to understanding how humans communicate. This special issue of the Journal will focus on this fascinating Canine-Human Communication (CHC).
Understanding and augmenting the CHC is an important research issue. Humans seem to know a lot about the canines around us, yet we know very little about them. Canines are an unexplored frontier region, closer than outer space and deeper than the deep sea. We will introduce cutting-edge technologies and knowledge, such as computer vision, virtual reality, computer science, robotics, canine behavior, neuroscience, and medical knowledge, to measure, data, and analyze CHC during activity to explore uncharted territory. The discovery of new knowledge about canines as human companion animals will also lead to the creation of new social values.
In this special issue, we invite a wide range of papers on advanced technologies for augmenting CHC, methods for analyzing time-series data of biological signals and behaviors during CHC and new scientific results. In addition to canines, catsm which are companion animals that bond and communicate with humans, are also included in this special issue. Prospective contributed papers may cover, but are not limited to, the following topics related to advanced technologies for augmenting CHC:
- Sensor/suit system for measuring CHC
- Experimental protocols and devices to measure CHC
- Technologies to analyze and visualize CHC
- Advanced technologies to augment CHC
- Canine-computer interaction
- Measurement of canine biological & brain signals
- Measurement and visualization of canine behaviors
- Causal inference of canine time series data
- Advanced technologies to augment canine abilities
- Scientific findings on canine abilities and emotions
- Animal ethics in using canine abilities
