Meowtalk is the hottest new app that has cat owners going fur-frantic! Created by a former Amazon Alexa engineer, it’s certainly something to meow about. The app records your cat’s meows and attempts to translate them into human language. But it’s even more than that. For tech-savvy cat owners, this app is a dream come true. Read on to find out more about this latest cat app and why you need to download it right now!
Meowtalk – Cat Meow App
The app is still in its developmental stage, and already it takes artificial intelligence and translation technology to a whole new level!
The cat voice translator can recognize your cat’s meows and identify what they mean. The app currently holds a database of 13 human voice phrases. They reflect cat moods and cat intentions, such as “Feed me” and “Leave me alone!” As the science develops, further phrases will be added.
The app developer, Javier Sanchez, is a technical program manager at Bellevue – a Washington-based technology solutions company called Akvelon. The data scientist hopes it will change the way in which we communicate with our cats. As a former Amazon developer and engineer, Sanchez has the skills needed to make Meowtalk a true success. But there is still a long way to go. As with all technological advances, the early model will have some glitches that need to be addressed.
The theory is that this app will bring cats and their owners closer than ever before. Sanchez is a cat owner himself and understands what cats want and need. But even he acknowledges cats can be a mystery! That is exactly what this app hopes to change. The program was developed so the company could showcase its technology and illustrate their top capabilities. If it helps some cat owners along the way, then that is great, too! During the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s relationships with their pets were more crucial than ever. It is the ideal time for this app to launch – when people have time to play around with it, discover what it can do, and use it to increase their well-being with their pets.
It’s also perfect for cats, who tend to have a broader vocal range than dogs. Whilst dogs might understand human words better than cats, they have a very limited way of replying. Cats, on the other hand, are not that good at understanding humans (or at least they pretend can’t understand), but certainly have plenty to say!
Difficulties Faced by the Meowtalk App Translator
The main difficulty faced by any cat translation technology is consistency. Every cat’s meow is unique. They have a specific vocabulary that applies only to them. This speech is different from humans, as we use the same words within one language. We may have different accents, but the words are practically the same.
There is no generic database of cat sounds that can be loaded into the translator app. Instead, the machine learning Meowtalk technology has to record and label each sound that your cat makes. The more it is used, the better it translates, as it builds up a broader vocabulary of what your cat is trying to tell you. This is how artificial intelligence (AI) works. It is able to learn from its own failures and successes.
Voice recognition software, such as Alexa, is nothing new. Machine learning and data science AI are now a part of our everyday lives, so why shouldn’t our cats get involved, too?
The MeowTalk app will be available from the Apple and Android app store. The app will initially listen to your cat’s meows and then categorize the sounds into one of its 10 built-in intents that humans can understand. These are universal to all cats.
To start off, it may get some words wrong, but thanks to its advanced machine learning, the app will soon turn cat meows into something that even you can understand!
Cats do not have a shared language, but each cat’s meow is consistent and always means the same thing. This is how the app learns to translate your individual cat over time. The app allows you to create more than one profile for different cats and assigns each meow to the right one. This is great for multi-cat families who need to understand what each kitty is saying.
Once the app has learned a new meow, it will accurately predict its meaning the next time it hears it. The program can then effectively translate your cat.
The technology behind Meowtalk is constantly learning and receiving user feedback.
Take a look at our review of Cat GPS Trackers for more options.
Cat Translator Collar
So what is next for former Alexa engineer Javier Sanchez and the future of his current tech company?
Sanchez is very excited about developing the Meowtalk concept further. He believes it will be possible to add additional layers to the technology and even extra scenarios. Once these are combined with future technical capabilities, the possibilities are endless.
The first on the horizon is the development of a smart collar for cats. Currently, the cat smart collar is only an early prototype and still in the developmental stage. The aim is for it to hear a meow and then produce a human voice translation of what your cat is saying. This could be very useful if your cat is outside your door and needs to be let in.
The smart collar may even be able to send a text message to the cat’s owner, indicating that their human friend needs to come and open the door. The thought of sending cat sounds as text messages is a pretty cool idea. What cat parent wouldn’t love that? Technology could enhance your bond with your furry friend in ways that you would never imagined. We certainly didn’t, until now!
With the might of Akvelon behind it, there is no reason why this app’s dream won’t become a reality. Akvelon is a large tech firm, employing 800 people globally and running 150 sites around Seattle and the Silicon Valley. The company is known for providing software engineering solutions to Microsoft and Reddit, among many others.
Watch out, dog lovers. The age of enhanced cat communication has arrived!