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Cloud Service Launched for Wandant Dog Pedometer

Supports health monitoring and obesity prevention in pets

Fujitsu Limited

Tokyo, November 27, 2012

Fujitsu announced the release of the Wandant(1) dog pedometer, based on motion-tracking technology(2) developed by Fujitsu Laboratories, and an associated cloud service(3) that supports health management for dogs—the first of its kind in the pet care industry. The new product and service will be made available only in Japan from November 28.

With Wandant, the same sensing technologies developed for use in mobile phones are incorporated into a tag worn on the dog's collar, which automatically measures and records(4) the number of steps taken, shivering motions, and temperature changes. These data are collected in the cloud and presented as a graphic on a website that reports trends in the dog's activities that are easy to understand at a glance, facilitating management of the dog's health and preventing obesity.

Fujitsu is using ICT to visualize a pet's health and support the quality of animals' lives for a more prosperous society where people can confidently take better care of their pets.

Wandant in use

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Background

Given the demographic shifts in modern Japan, where there are fewer children and more people living longer, as well as a growing number of single-member households, pets have become increasingly important as family members and companions. As such, the environment surrounding pets and people is undergoing enormous changes. For example, the percentage of households with dogs has risen to 17.7%(5), and the average lifespan for dogs has climbed to 13.3 years (equivalent to 72 in humans)(6). Due to these shifts, the aging of pets and their care, as well as problems such as obesity, are becoming increasingly prominent issues. In response, Fujitsu developed the Wandant-based cloud service to support health monitoring in dogs.

Service features

1. Continuous health monitoring and support in preventing obesity

The Wandant tag automatically measures steps, shivering and temperature changes. The data that are measured and recorded by the Wandant tag are automatically uploaded to the cloud using the FeliCa communication system whenever the tag is held near a smartphone or personal computer(7). Once online, the data are presented graphically on a custom website that makes trends in the dog's activities easy to understand at a glance. Owners can add additional information, such as food volume, stool conditions, and current weight using a diary feature on the website. This helps owners get a stronger sense of their dog's health, while enabling communication with the dog.

Service image

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2. The pet care industry's first pedometer specifically adapted to dogs

The Wandant tag uses a three-axis accelerometer(8) and automated inference technology to count steps based on detected foreleg movements, the speed of foreleg movements, and leg length, resulting in the pet care industry's first automatic pedometer fully adapted for dogs(9). This results in highly accurate pace counts, measured automatically.

Wandant tag

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1. Detector: three-way accelerometer
2. Communications: near-field communications (FeliCa protocol)
3. Battery life: Approx. 4 months (under Fujitsu's testing conditions)
4. Dimensions: 46 × 28.4 × 12.5 mm
5. Weight: Approx. 16 g (with battery)
6. Internal data-logging capacity: 14 days

 

What data is captured, and how it is used
Data type Usage Capture method
Steps Checking dog's daily activity level (for preventing obesity) Automatically (in 10-minute increments)
Shivering Checking dog's stress level
Temperature change Ensuring a comfortable environment for the dog
Food type and volume Benchmarking changes in dog's health Manual input via dedicated website
Stool condition
Diary and photos Generating an album of dog's growth

Service interface

Website for smartphones (Android screen)

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Website for personal computers (Windows screen)

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Data measured by the Wandant tag are collected in the cloud, which provides unified management of health data for each pet. In the future, this will facilitate sharing information with veterinarians and research institutions.

In addition, Fujitsu plans to launch a joint study on pet behavior and health in January 2013 in cooperation with Anicom Holdings and Professor Toshiki Sako of the Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University. Fujitsu anticipates expanded features and services for Wandant as a result of these efforts.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing and Availability
Product name Price Availability
Wandant dog pedometer, pink (WD-PK1) Open pricing November 28
Wandant dog pedometer, blue (WD-BU1)

A usage fee for one year of cloud service is included with the sale price of the Wandant tag. Pricing after the first year is expected to cost 420 yen per month.

Sales target

400,000 accounts by fiscal 2015.

How to Purchase

The Wandant tag will be available on Fujitsu CoWorCo's "Fujitsu Supply Hiroba" online shops through Amazon and Rakuten. It will also be sold through select pet stores.


  • [1] Wandant:

    The name Wandant is a combination of "wan," the colloquial Japanese word for dog, and the English word "pendant."

  • [2] Motion-tracking technology:

    Technology to measure a body's movements, inferring based on sensor readings whether the body is walking or running.

  • [3] Associated cloud service:

    Found to be first in the industry according to Fujitsu's internal research, as of November 1, 2012.

  • [4] Automatically measures and records:

    Intended for use with dogs at least six months old, with legs at least 15 cm long.

  • [5] 17.7% households with dog:

    Approximately 11.936 million animals in 9.473 million homes (as of December 26, 2011). Source: "2011 National Dog/Cat Food Survey," Japan Pet Food Association.

  • [6] 13.3 years average age (equivalent to 72 in human)

    Source: "Household Pets White Paper 2012," Anicom Holdings

  • [7] Held near a smartphone or personal computer:

    To be read by a PC, this requires a FeliCa port to be connected to the computer's USB port.

  • [8] Three-axis accelerometer:

    Detects changes in acceleration along three axes: up/down, left/right, and fore/aft, to measure body movements and inclination in three dimensions.

  • [9] Pet industry's first automatic pedometer fully adapted for dogs

    According to Fujitsu's internal research, as of November 1, 2012.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Over 170,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen (US$54 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.

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All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

Date: 27 November, 2012
City: Tokyo
Company: Fujitsu Limited, , , , , , , , , ,