[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Fujitsu has released a dog pedometer, based on motion-tracking technology developed by Fujitsu Laboratories, and an associated cloud service that supports health management for dogs—the first of its kind in the pet care industry.

With the Wandant dog pedometer, 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 the number of steps taken, shivering motions, and temperature changes. The data are collected in the cloud and presented as a graphic on a website, that reports trends in the dog’s activities, facilitating management of the dog’s health and preventing obesity.

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. Owners can add additional information, such as food volume, stool conditions, and current weight using a diary feature on the website.

The Wandant is currently available only in Japan, in online shops through Amazon and Rakuten, and pet stores. 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.

Fujitsu says it expects to sell 400,000 Wandant accounts by fiscal 2015.