Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.com
Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the University of Glasgow creating interactive and internet-enabled systems for animals. www.ilyena.com
Pinned
Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.com
· Dec 1
Hello Bluesky 👋 I make interactive computers for animals that allow them to control their environment and access the internet. I create technologies that allow for animals to have new ways of interaction, enabling choice and control over their life. From tech usage we can peek inside their world.
My TEDxManchester talk, "What if your dog could FaceTime you?" was featured in the top 25 most essential talks playlist on the TEDx channel. Thank you to everyone who watched, shared, and nurtured these ideas!
youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
@glasgow.ac.uk @uofgstem.bsky.social
youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
@glasgow.ac.uk @uofgstem.bsky.social
What if your dog could FaceTime you? | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas | TEDxManchester
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:56 PM
My TEDxManchester talk, "What if your dog could FaceTime you?" was featured in the top 25 most essential talks playlist on the TEDx channel. Thank you to everyone who watched, shared, and nurtured these ideas!
youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
@glasgow.ac.uk @uofgstem.bsky.social
youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
@glasgow.ac.uk @uofgstem.bsky.social
Grateful to see our cat café research getting attention from The American Animal Hosptial Association! 🐱 A reminder that animals don't always engage with tech the way we expect.
www.aaha.org/trends-magaz...
@glasgow.ac.uk
www.aaha.org/trends-magaz...
@glasgow.ac.uk
Tablets for tabbies: A look at technology, animal welfare, and interaction in cat cafes
Can technology improve the cat and visitor experience in cat cafes? A recent study created MewTube to find out.
www.aaha.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Grateful to see our cat café research getting attention from The American Animal Hosptial Association! 🐱 A reminder that animals don't always engage with tech the way we expect.
www.aaha.org/trends-magaz...
@glasgow.ac.uk
www.aaha.org/trends-magaz...
@glasgow.ac.uk
Big year, bigger one ahead.
With my ERC Starting Grant FUTUREFAUNA starting next year, it feels like I’m stepping into the next phase of what I can do. Excited for the next five years — and to kick it off with a keynote at HRI in March.
With my ERC Starting Grant FUTUREFAUNA starting next year, it feels like I’m stepping into the next phase of what I can do. Excited for the next five years — and to kick it off with a keynote at HRI in March.
December 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Big year, bigger one ahead.
With my ERC Starting Grant FUTUREFAUNA starting next year, it feels like I’m stepping into the next phase of what I can do. Excited for the next five years — and to kick it off with a keynote at HRI in March.
With my ERC Starting Grant FUTUREFAUNA starting next year, it feels like I’m stepping into the next phase of what I can do. Excited for the next five years — and to kick it off with a keynote at HRI in March.
At the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour conference, where Jiaqi presented her PhD work showing that multimodal technology (smell, sound, and visuals) engaged lemurs far better than visuals alone.
Paper: doi.org/10.1145/3706... @glasgow.ac.uk
Paper: doi.org/10.1145/3706... @glasgow.ac.uk
December 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
At the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour conference, where Jiaqi presented her PhD work showing that multimodal technology (smell, sound, and visuals) engaged lemurs far better than visuals alone.
Paper: doi.org/10.1145/3706... @glasgow.ac.uk
Paper: doi.org/10.1145/3706... @glasgow.ac.uk
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
If you missed Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas at British Science Festival in Liverpool yesterday talking about her work to connect animals through tech, check this out! 🦜💻 #BSF25
My TEDx talk has been featured on TEDx YouTube as an Editor's Pick! youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
What if your dog could FaceTime you? | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas | TEDxManchester
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
September 12, 2025 at 7:51 AM
If you missed Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas at British Science Festival in Liverpool yesterday talking about her work to connect animals through tech, check this out! 🦜💻 #BSF25
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
Congrats to Dr Rachael Boyd of the School of Mathematics & Statistics and Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas (@ilyena.bsky.social) of @uofgcompsci.bsky.social, who have received @erc.europa.eu Starting Grants to support groundbreaking new research projects.
Read more here: gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Read more here: gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
September 4, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Congrats to Dr Rachael Boyd of the School of Mathematics & Statistics and Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas (@ilyena.bsky.social) of @uofgcompsci.bsky.social, who have received @erc.europa.eu Starting Grants to support groundbreaking new research projects.
Read more here: gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Read more here: gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
My TEDx talk has been featured on TEDx YouTube as an Editor's Pick! youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
What if your dog could FaceTime you? | Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas | TEDxManchester
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
August 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
My TEDx talk has been featured on TEDx YouTube as an Editor's Pick! youtu.be/Rgfi6DGDPBk?...
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
In her TEDx talk, UofG's Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas reveals what happens when animals control their own technology. From parrots choosing their online friends to dogs scheduling video calls!
Learn about her groundbreaking research ⬇️
www.ted.com/talks/ilyena...
Learn about her groundbreaking research ⬇️
www.ted.com/talks/ilyena...
What happens when your dog uses the internet
Imagine this: you walk into a room, and your dog is on a video call with their fellow canine friends. Computer scientist Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas thinks the notion of a social internet for animals is no...
www.ted.com
July 4, 2025 at 9:12 AM
In her TEDx talk, UofG's Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas reveals what happens when animals control their own technology. From parrots choosing their online friends to dogs scheduling video calls!
Learn about her groundbreaking research ⬇️
www.ted.com/talks/ilyena...
Learn about her groundbreaking research ⬇️
www.ted.com/talks/ilyena...
How can interactive technology support animals and humans in zoos? We developed a device for red-ruffed lemurs to trigger smell, sound, and visuals. Using the device 4021 times over 63 days, lemurs use the system significantly more with multimodal than unimodal stimuli
April 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
How can interactive technology support animals and humans in zoos? We developed a device for red-ruffed lemurs to trigger smell, sound, and visuals. Using the device 4021 times over 63 days, lemurs use the system significantly more with multimodal than unimodal stimuli
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
New technology developed by @ilyena.bsky.social of @uofgcompsci.bsky.social in partnership with Blair Drummond Safari Park which allows zoo animals and their human visitors to share experiences could have positive benefits for both.
Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
April 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
New technology developed by @ilyena.bsky.social of @uofgcompsci.bsky.social in partnership with Blair Drummond Safari Park which allows zoo animals and their human visitors to share experiences could have positive benefits for both.
Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
Thanks so much to our two speakers for an excellent seminar about starting new research groups. @ilyena.bsky.social and Sharon Ding provided fantastic advice and introspective reflections on their experiences.
March 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Thanks so much to our two speakers for an excellent seminar about starting new research groups. @ilyena.bsky.social and Sharon Ding provided fantastic advice and introspective reflections on their experiences.
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
Exciting times, the next GWiCS Seminar is coming soon!
Next week on Wednesday at 3pm Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.bsky.social
and Dr Xianghua (Sharon) Ding will talk to us about their experiences establishing new groups as research leaders.
Come join us in SAWB room 423 or on Zoom!
Next week on Wednesday at 3pm Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.bsky.social
and Dr Xianghua (Sharon) Ding will talk to us about their experiences establishing new groups as research leaders.
Come join us in SAWB room 423 or on Zoom!
March 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Exciting times, the next GWiCS Seminar is coming soon!
Next week on Wednesday at 3pm Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.bsky.social
and Dr Xianghua (Sharon) Ding will talk to us about their experiences establishing new groups as research leaders.
Come join us in SAWB room 423 or on Zoom!
Next week on Wednesday at 3pm Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.bsky.social
and Dr Xianghua (Sharon) Ding will talk to us about their experiences establishing new groups as research leaders.
Come join us in SAWB room 423 or on Zoom!
Over the weekend, I gave a TEDxManchester talk on creating computer devices that enable animals to control their environment and social lives using the Internet.
The talk will be available on YouTube in a few months (link coming soon!).
@uofglasgow.bsky.social
The talk will be available on YouTube in a few months (link coming soon!).
@uofglasgow.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Over the weekend, I gave a TEDxManchester talk on creating computer devices that enable animals to control their environment and social lives using the Internet.
The talk will be available on YouTube in a few months (link coming soon!).
@uofglasgow.bsky.social
The talk will be available on YouTube in a few months (link coming soon!).
@uofglasgow.bsky.social
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
@ilyena.bsky.social delves into building the Animal Internet, a realm where animals connect through technology, reshaping our bond with them. A must-see exploration! 🌍 #TEDxManchester
March 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
@ilyena.bsky.social delves into building the Animal Internet, a realm where animals connect through technology, reshaping our bond with them. A must-see exploration! 🌍 #TEDxManchester
My research group has been awarded a @ufaw.bsky.social
Large Grant to study the behaviour of Red-Ruff Lemurs with technology at @blairdrummond.bsky.social Zoo. Berkay Arslan will join my Animal-Computer Interaction group at @uofglasgow.bsky.social for six months - welcome!
Large Grant to study the behaviour of Red-Ruff Lemurs with technology at @blairdrummond.bsky.social Zoo. Berkay Arslan will join my Animal-Computer Interaction group at @uofglasgow.bsky.social for six months - welcome!
February 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My research group has been awarded a @ufaw.bsky.social
Large Grant to study the behaviour of Red-Ruff Lemurs with technology at @blairdrummond.bsky.social Zoo. Berkay Arslan will join my Animal-Computer Interaction group at @uofglasgow.bsky.social for six months - welcome!
Large Grant to study the behaviour of Red-Ruff Lemurs with technology at @blairdrummond.bsky.social Zoo. Berkay Arslan will join my Animal-Computer Interaction group at @uofglasgow.bsky.social for six months - welcome!
What a beautiful campus the @uniofstandrews.bsky.social
has! Thank you for inviting me to talk about my animal-computing research at the Psychology and Neuroscience department and to Prof Amanda Seed for the ice cream and conversation.
has! Thank you for inviting me to talk about my animal-computing research at the Psychology and Neuroscience department and to Prof Amanda Seed for the ice cream and conversation.
February 17, 2025 at 10:51 AM
What a beautiful campus the @uniofstandrews.bsky.social
has! Thank you for inviting me to talk about my animal-computing research at the Psychology and Neuroscience department and to Prof Amanda Seed for the ice cream and conversation.
has! Thank you for inviting me to talk about my animal-computing research at the Psychology and Neuroscience department and to Prof Amanda Seed for the ice cream and conversation.
I'll be giving a TEDx talk in March on my vision and work around the Animal Internet and how this can reshape our understanding of animal lives - exciting times!
February 17, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I'll be giving a TEDx talk in March on my vision and work around the Animal Internet and how this can reshape our understanding of animal lives - exciting times!
I lectured at @northeasternu.bsky.social Animal-Computer Interaction class; students asked how I chose projects/animals to guide their choices. Ideas spark from institutions, papers and experience, but navigating animal and human desires for tech (of who wants what & why) is complex.
February 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I lectured at @northeasternu.bsky.social Animal-Computer Interaction class; students asked how I chose projects/animals to guide their choices. Ideas spark from institutions, papers and experience, but navigating animal and human desires for tech (of who wants what & why) is complex.
Reposted by Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas
'POCA!' Is A Game Boy Camera Photobook Adventure & A Heartfelt Homage To 'Hip' Tanaka.
Feature: 'POCA!' Is A Game Boy Camera Photobook Adventure & A Heartfelt Homage To 'Hip' Tanaka
"I feel like I made the book almost for him"
www.nintendolife.com
December 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM
'POCA!' Is A Game Boy Camera Photobook Adventure & A Heartfelt Homage To 'Hip' Tanaka.
Pet tech offers many ways to transform how we care for animals. As someone who builds pet tech, I've seen the rise of quantified pets offering potential insights into animal health. I'm quoted in this article asking how we make meaning and use pet tracking data and its potential unexpected usage.
@kristenvbrown.bsky.social: “A deluge of data can make real health concerns difficult to discern. It also totally stressed me out.”
Has Your Cat Closed Its Rings Today?
Welcome to the era of the quantified pet.
www.theatlantic.com
December 18, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Pet tech offers many ways to transform how we care for animals. As someone who builds pet tech, I've seen the rise of quantified pets offering potential insights into animal health. I'm quoted in this article asking how we make meaning and use pet tracking data and its potential unexpected usage.
I will present my parrot and dog interactive tech research tomorrow at Prof. Ludwig Huber's lab at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. I'm looking forward to the comparative cognition perspective on my work and to thinking about wider implications. Thanks for the invite!
December 9, 2024 at 12:58 PM
I will present my parrot and dog interactive tech research tomorrow at Prof. Ludwig Huber's lab at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. I'm looking forward to the comparative cognition perspective on my work and to thinking about wider implications. Thanks for the invite!
I am was privileged to host the International ACI Conference this week at @uofglasgow.bsky.social. Thank you to Glasgow City Council for their sponsorship, and immense gratitude to all attendees who made this such a productive and engaging event.
December 8, 2024 at 7:27 PM
I am was privileged to host the International ACI Conference this week at @uofglasgow.bsky.social. Thank you to Glasgow City Council for their sponsorship, and immense gratitude to all attendees who made this such a productive and engaging event.
This year I’m hosting the ACM International Animal-Computer Interaction conference - kicking off today with a workshop on acoustic enrichment
December 2, 2024 at 11:55 AM
This year I’m hosting the ACM International Animal-Computer Interaction conference - kicking off today with a workshop on acoustic enrichment
Hello Bluesky 👋 I make interactive computers for animals that allow them to control their environment and access the internet. I create technologies that allow for animals to have new ways of interaction, enabling choice and control over their life. From tech usage we can peek inside their world.
December 1, 2024 at 9:39 PM
Hello Bluesky 👋 I make interactive computers for animals that allow them to control their environment and access the internet. I create technologies that allow for animals to have new ways of interaction, enabling choice and control over their life. From tech usage we can peek inside their world.
I have two papers in this year's proceedings:
1) A review of demographic reporting in animal research w/ @rebeccakleinberger.bsky.social [Honourable mention] doi.org/10.1145/3702...
2) Designing immersive curved screens for dogs to control in their home environment doi.org/10.1145/3702...
1) A review of demographic reporting in animal research w/ @rebeccakleinberger.bsky.social [Honourable mention] doi.org/10.1145/3702...
2) Designing immersive curved screens for dogs to control in their home environment doi.org/10.1145/3702...
With the International Animal Computer Interaction conference starting Monday, this year's proceedings have just hit the ACM Digital Library. dl.acm.org/doi/proceedi...
Proceedings of the International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction | ACM Other conferences
ACI: Animal-Computer Interaction
dl.acm.org
November 30, 2024 at 3:51 PM
I have two papers in this year's proceedings:
1) A review of demographic reporting in animal research w/ @rebeccakleinberger.bsky.social [Honourable mention] doi.org/10.1145/3702...
2) Designing immersive curved screens for dogs to control in their home environment doi.org/10.1145/3702...
1) A review of demographic reporting in animal research w/ @rebeccakleinberger.bsky.social [Honourable mention] doi.org/10.1145/3702...
2) Designing immersive curved screens for dogs to control in their home environment doi.org/10.1145/3702...