Towards Interface Design for Parrot-Human Communication: Investigating Parrot Selections of Speech Board Representations

Paper Title

Towards Interface Design for Parrot-Human Communication: Investigating Parrot Selections of Speech Board Representations

Publication Info

• Topic area: Parrot-human communication via tablet-based speech boards and interface design.
• Keywords: Parrot-human communication, speech boards, avian usability, interface design, AAC tools, associative learning, animal-computer interaction, cognitive enrichment, functional communication, longitudinal study.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: The influence of speech board interface design on avian usability and its potential to support functional parrot-human communication has not been explored.
• Significance: Understanding interface design for parrots can enhance their ability to communicate with humans, improving their welfare and agency in captivity.
• Motivation and related work: Prior research has shown parrots can intentionally use speech boards for functional communication, but usability challenges, such as selecting small targets, have been noted. The impact of design variables like representation type, granularity, repertoire, and arrangement remains unexamined.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A longitudinal four-year study of a Goffin's Cockatoo interacting with three successive speech board interface designs.
• Novelty:
  1. First exploration of the relationship between interface design variables and parrots' selection of speech board representations.
  2. Analysis of spontaneous and trained selections to identify trends and usability considerations.
  3. Contribution of hypotheses for future research into avian usability of speech boards.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • A single cockatoo interacted with three speech board iterations over four years.
  • Representations were labeled by type (e.g., iconic photos, abstract signs), granularity (words vs. phrases), repertoire (e.g., self and states, resources), and arrangement.
  • Nearly 8,500 interactions were logged and analyzed for trends in spontaneous and trained selections.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Spontaneous selections were dominated by iconic photos and drawings of familiar objects or environments.
  • Over time, the cockatoo shifted from selecting resources and activities to expressing inner states and experiences.
  • Selection trends were not proportional to the availability or location of options in the menu tree.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Demonstrated that interface design variables like representation type and menu arrangement significantly influence avian interaction patterns.
  • Highlighted the potential for speech boards to support complex communication, including emotional and temporal expressions.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Data collected over 4 years, across 3 speech board iterations, with nearly 8,500 logged interactions.
  • Representations were analyzed for type, granularity, repertoire, and arrangement.
  • Findings were based on both spontaneous (untrained) and trained selections.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Single participant limits generalizability.
  • Variability in representation design and sourcing may have diluted findings.
  • Future work should involve larger samples, systematic representation design (e.g., AI-generated drawings), and controlled experiments.

Summary

This study explored the relationship between speech board interface design and a parrot's interaction patterns over four years. Findings suggest that iconic photos and drawings facilitate recognition of familiar objects and states, while menu arrangement and repertoire variety influence usability. The parrot's selections shifted from immediate needs to expressing inner states and experiences, indicating evolving communication patterns. The study contributes hypotheses for future research on avian usability, emphasizing the need for systematic investigation with larger samples and controlled designs. These insights could enhance the design of tools for parrot-human communication, supporting animal agency and welfare.