Digital Bioacoustics
Welcome to c/DigitalBioacoustics, a unique niche in the vast universe of online forums and digital communities. At its core, bioacoustics is the study of sound in and from living organisms, an intriguing intersection of biology and acoustics. Digital bioacoustics, an extension of this field, involves using technology to capture, analyze, and interpret these biological sounds. This community is dedicated to exploring these fascinating aspects of nature through a digital lens.
As you delve into c/DigitalBioacoustics, you'll notice it's not just another technical forum. This space transcends the usual drone of server rooms or the monotonous tap-tap of keyboards. Here, members engage in a unique fusion of natural wonders and technological prowess. Imagine a world where the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the mysterious calls of nocturnal creatures meet the precision of digital recording and analysis.
Within this domain, we, the participants, become both observers and participants in an intricate dance. Our mission is to unravel the mysteries of nature's soundtrack, decoding the language of the wild through the lens of science. This journey is not just about data and graphs; it's about connecting with the primal rhythm of life itself.
As you venture deeper, the poetic essence of our community unfolds. Nature's raw concert, from the powerful songs of mating calls to the subtle whispers of predator and prey, creates a tapestry of sounds. We juxtapose these organic melodies with the mechanical beeps and buzzes of our equipment, a reminder of the constant interplay between the natural world and our quest to understand it.
Our community embodies the spirit of curious scientists and nature enthusiasts alike, all drawn to the mystery and majesty of the natural world. In this symphonic melding of science and nature, we discover not just answers, but also new questions and a deeper appreciation for the complex beauty of our planet.
c/DigitalBioacoustics is more than a mere digital gathering place. It's a living, breathing symphony of stories, each note a discovery, each pause a moment of reflection. Here, we celebrate the intricate dance of nature and technology, the joy of discovery, and the enduring quest for understanding in a world filled with both harmony and dissonance.
For those brave enough to explore its depths, c/DigitalBioacoustics offers a journey like no other: a melding of science and art, a discovery of nature's secrets, and a celebration of the eternal dance between the wild and the wired.
Related communities:
https://lemmy.world/c/awwnverts
https://lemmy.world/c/bats
[email protected]
https://lemmy.world/c/birding
https://lemmy.world/c/capybara
https://lemmy.world/c/jellyfish
https://lemmy.world/c/nature
[email protected]
https://lemmy.world/c/opossums
https://lemmy.world/c/raccoons
https://lemmy.world/c/skunks
https://lemmy.world/c/whales
Please let me know if you know of any other related communities or any other links I should add.
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There are two immediate flaws I see with the study. The first is the sound quality of the youtube videos, which have been engineered to human hearing. Dogs hear frequencies high above the human range, and it's highly likely their vocalizations carry nuance and context in the upper frequency. A simple microphone recording won't do - you need something with high sensitivity and minimal distortion, and you have to ensure the digitization of the sound file doesn't interfere with the quality for those higher ranges.
The second is the sound input into the analysis, which also should be tuned for these higher frequencies - I find it unlikely that the AI was matching frequencies above human hearing to generate dog "words".
In essence, they're analyzing how humans hear dogs speak, not how dogs speak to each other. To do so properly, an ideal research setting would be one of dogs interacting live with each other, with sound recording equipment that can match the quality of canine hearing.
That being said, it's a fascinating work, and I understand that the researchers were working with the data on hand - definitely shows promise for continued study.
Great points! Certainly it would be very nice to do this with better recording devices. It would be interesting to look at some dog barks with an ultrasound recording device like they use for bats, something like the Audiomoth.
I have read that adult cats both hear and communicate with ultrasound, and that when they want to communicate with people they are essentially using their version of baby talk so we are able to hear them. I hadn't heard of anything like this for dog communication, but just looked around a little bit and found that dogs do produce some infrasounds, but they don't hear them, although they probably do feel them. They are able to hear well into ultrasound, but I've not found anywhere saying that they produce them or use them communicate (although it is a bit tough to search for since so many hits are just about the fact that they hear ultrasound). Do you know of anything specific about dogs producing ultrasound?
I agree, some high range microphones placed around multiple dog interactions would be great, especially with some cameras tracking movements and actions.