[imagesource:twitter/@HaloCollar]

“Hello? Yes, this is dog speaking,” is how a smartphone for dogs manifests in my imagination, but the reality is less fantastical and more a technological feat of great minds.

In the ever-evolving world of pet tech, the Halo Collar, which harnesses the power of the internet of things (IoT) with Wi-Fi and GPS technologies to create a virtual fence for dogs, made significant strides to redefine pet safety and accessibility.

Brainchild of co-founders Ken and Michael Ehrman, the $699 (a hefty R13 000) Halo Collar is a pet wearable with the mission of saving dogs’ lives and provide them with the freedom to roam off-leash securely.

With over 150 000 dogs already protected by this cutting-edge device, it has garnered the attention and endorsement of celebrities like Ashlee Simpson, Mario Lopez, and the D’Amelio family.

Michael Ehrman recently revealed in an interview that the third-generation Halo Collar 3 will be “the most accurate GPS dog fence ever created”.

Likened to a ‘pet smartphone’, the new Halo offering features artificial intelligence (AI) software that harnesses GPS signals and employs advanced data analysis, offering a higher degree of location accuracy, known as PrecisionGPS.

The significance of this new technology lies in the fact that dogs naturally move around their environment, causing signals to bounce and shift. PrecisionGPS counteracts this challenge, ensuring that dog owners have an accurate understanding of their pet’s location, even in complex scenarios.

“It’s [the PrecisionGPS tech] something that’s very unique to Halo,” Michael Ehrman revealed. “It’s the only product on the market that has it, and we’re very excited about that.”

The Halo Collar 3 also boasts better battery life, support for cellular connectivity, a redesigned magnetic charging cable, and a variety of new colours.

The new-fangled device opens a whole lot of possibilities, and not just for celebs who want to sport the latest tech. Ken Ehrman has explained how the Halo Collar has helped his elderly mother look after her dogs despite her age and mobility issues.

Michael Ehrman also pointed out the inspiring possibilities for the Halo collar, hinting at the ever-evolving nature of such a device.

“It’s an investment in the future, it’s a different way to look at smart pet products or any pet product—it’s not just a commodity. It’s a platform your dog wears that will continue to grow. It’s what it can do for you and how it changes your life. Our goal is to keep dogs free and safe, and at the same time, give you the owner peace of mind to let you do things with your dog that you never could do before.”

While I’m not sure if it’s realistic to fork out a cool R13k for the wired hoop of rubber, every pet owner’s dream of communicating directly with their animals draws closer with every paw.

[source:forbes]