Forget real-time translation of speech from one human to another. What we really need is to understand what our dogs are saying. TheRe’s an app for that. One that will translate what your dog is saying. The technology actually won the 2002 Ig Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s called BowLingual and it’s about to be ported to the iPhone as an app from the App Store. So just what is the ‘Ig Nobel Prize’? Wikipedia says that “It’s an American parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year in early October for ten achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”.

Do you really need a dog translator? I can do the translating for you right now. Dogs are simple creatures, who only say a few things with their barks. Stuff like, “Holy crap, are you gonna take me for a walk or am I gonna poop in your shoe again?” or “Hey. Guy who kidnapped me as a puppy, do you plan on feeding me that garbage you call food anytime soon?”

But if you don’t want to take my word for it, then check out this gadget. TakaraTomy may have developed the world’s first dog translator. Just “place the bark-sensor collar around your pup’s neck, then grab the wireless controller and the Bowlingual Voice will speak on your dog’s behalf.”