Copyright (c) 2010 James ParrishResearchers at the University of Alabama-Birmingham areRosetta Stone American English
testing software designed to train children in dog bite prevention. The program, called Blue Dog, is already on the market in some areas.The study is geared to children between the ages three and six. 'This is not a small problem,' said David Schwebel, professor and vice chairman of the psychology department at UAB."Dog owners love their dogs and think their dogs are very safe," Schwebel told ABC News. 'A huge portion of dogs are safe. But if they get provoked the wrong way, they will bite.'According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, dogs bite about 4.5 million Americans per year, with several further cases going unreported.Children can be especially susceptible to dog bites, according to the CDC. Dogs don't typically 'just snap,' according to an ABC News report, and a number of common behaviors can get children bitten. Hugging tightly around the Learn French
neck, tail-pulling and ear-touching are just a few of these habits.The nonverbal Blue Dog software program presents children with choices to make in various situations involving dogs. In one scenario, a dog is eating. The child selects whether to play with the dog, or to leave it alone.In another, the child chooses whether to play with its own toy or with the dog's toy. If the child makes the wrong choice, the Blue Dog will exhibit typical warning behavior'growling and baring teeth. Without showing the actual consequences, the computer tells the child they have made the wrong choice. When the dog growls, the cartoon child will, however, appear scared, reinforcing to the child they made the wrong decision.UAB researchers observe children interacting with a dog in a controlled environment. The children are then sent home with the Blue Dog software. After returning to the lab, researchers note any change in their behaviors. The control group is sent home with a different nonverbal computer game.UAB researchers are hoping to see the child exhibitRosetta Stone Language Learning
safer interactions with dogs after playing the game, for example petting the dog on the back instead of the face.
2011年4月10日星期日
Blue Dog Software Tested at UAB
0 评论:
发表评论