The researchers, who have already developed a vest that lets dogs deliver messages, and send their GPS co-ordinates, developed the touchscreen to train dogs to activate a device if their owner falls or if they hear them ask for help.

The technology could help save lives, particularly those the elderly who are at higher risk of falling.

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Researchers based at the Georgia Institute of Technology trained dogs to approach a large TV-sized touchscreen and use their nose to dial 911 when they hear the word ‘help’. Pictured is the touchscreen used, with icons colored in blue and yellow which the dogs can see

The technology was developed by a team of researchers for FIDO project at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr Melody Jackson, director of the animal-computer interaction lab at Georgia Tech, told CNN: ‘The dog could go over to a touchscreen and touch a series of icons on the touchscreen and call 911 with your location.’

‘We think that, literally, this could change lives, make lives so much better, and be a life-saver.’

She said that service dogs as well as regular companion pets could be use the touchscreen technology.

Dr Jackson and her team said that they realized that both service dogs and working dogs have information that they need to impart to their handlers.

For example, medical alert dogs may need to alert 911 if their owner falls, or a military  dog may need to alert their handler as to what kind of explosive they’ve found.

Dr Jackson, who is also a dog trainer, and her colleagues have trained her border collie Sky, as well as other dogs, to approach a large TV-sized touchscreen and use their nose to dial 911 when they hear the word ‘help’.

After the dog uses its nose to push the buttons, a computer connected to the touchscreen can be programmed to call anyone, for example a family member, doctor or 911.

According to Clint Zeagler, a researcher at Georgia Tech, the buttons are colored in blue and yellow because dogs are red-green colorblind.

He says that there are only three buttons on the screen to reduce the chance of accidental calls being made if the dog hits the screen accidentally.

The researchers are testing what size the buttons should be, what colors they should be and what hardware should be used for the dogs to optimize the technology.

The researchers also developed a wearable vest for dogs that lets dogs deliver messages and even send their GPS co-ordinates.

The researchers also developed a wearable vest for dogs that lets them deliver messages and make calls. Pulling or biting certain features on the vest activate sensors which send signals to a computer in the vest which can make a phone call, send a text or play an audio message

The sensors on the vest either have a chew toy for the dog to bite on for a command, or a rope to tug for another command.

These actions activate sensors which send signals to a computer in the vest which can make a phone call, send a text or play an audio message.

An audio message could for example let someone know that the dog has already called for help or that it needs more assistance for its owner.

For example, some seizure alert dogs can sense the onset of seizures, and they’re trained to push their owners against a wall to lessen their fall, and lick their face during the seizure.

The FIDO project team say that they hope these technologies can be commercially available for service animals soon, but the technologies are still at the prototype stage.

But with the vest, a seizure alert dog could also tug a sensor on their vest to call 911.

‘We want to be able to let these dogs communicate with humans very specifically and very clearly so that even a person who isn’t a dog trainer will understand what’s going on,’ said Dr Jackson.

‘If the dog runs up to you and a speaker says, “Excuse me, my handler needs your attention; can you please follow me,” OK, that’s clear.’

The FIDO project team say that they hope these technologies can be commercially available for service animals soon, but the technologies are still at the prototype stage.

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