The first business I ever owned was a dog biscuit bakery and espresso truck. Along with all the pots, pans, ovens and coffee cups that came with the business we bought in 1999 were a couple of boxes of bizarre stuff. A fish bowl,
a box of tennis balls, 30 rubber stamps, etc. One of items that started a buzz was the network video camera, still in the box. "Oh yeah" said the original owner. "We were going to rig it up on the truck so people could see the weather at the park, how busy it was, etc, but we couldn't figure out how to get an internet connection to it."
Well that was then. Now, only 8 years later, WiFi is old-school and internet video is all the rage.
In the October 2007 Wired magazine,
Lisa Katayama writes about her experience with network cameras at the local dog spa/hotel.
The overnight suites have "Wag Cams" which allow pet owners view their pets via the Internet. But Katayama learns that too much access can be a good thing.
"But back home, instead of checking the webcam only sporadically, I find myself glued to the computer screen," writes Katayama. "I cancel dinner with my cousin because I want to make sure Ruby's masseur comes at 6:15 sharp to deliver the belly rub. (He does.) And for the next six hours, I wander no more than a few feet from my MacBook Pro. The live video stream has me transfixed. Around 8 pm, a pretty brunette appears in Ruby's room. About 15 minutes later, after their rooftop stroll, she shuts the door and promises: "I'll be back to see you, OK?"
In the middle of the night, Katayama retrieves her little Ruby after checking in to find that neither of them were getting a good night's sleep. Ruby was standing on her hindlegs howling at the camera at 2:30 AM and Katayama was sleeping at her desk in order to watch the cam.
Excessive or not, technology is becoming more and more a part of our lives. And technology is also becoming an important part of our business models. So how might network cameras be incorporated into an animal-related business?
Horse trainers might set up a camera at a show ring, so that friends' and families of clients can watch the riders. And the video can be captured for later analysis of the rider's technique. Same is true at dog shows, too.
Stables/kennels might offer cameras in stalls and cages of their client's animals, charging an extra fee for the service.
Breeders may install cameras in the pens of animals in late stages of pregnancy, so that clients miles away can watch their puppy/foal/kitten being born. This will also save the breeder from having to respond to the constant emails/phone calls/visits about how their little critter is doing.
As businesses become more and more sophisticated, the use of network cameras can help owners create value and differentiate themselves from the competition. And when they are away on vacation, they too, can sit at their laptop and obsess about their animal family back home, just like Lisa Katayama.
(Illustration:
Jessica Hische)
Labels: career boost, dog, farm, horse, services
