Orangutans at Miami's Jungle Island use iPads to communicate

[iscooterliberally]

Source: The Miami Herald

By DAVID FISCHER
Associated Press

MIAMI -- The 8-year-old twins love their iPad. They draw, play games and expand their vocabulary. Their family's teenagers also like the hand-held computer tablets, too, but the clan's elders show no interest.

The orangutans at Miami's Jungle Island apparently are just like people when it comes to technology. The park is one of several zoos experimenting with computers and apes, letting its six orangutans use an iPad to communicate and as part of a mental stimulus program. Linda Jacobs, who oversees the program, hopes the devices will eventually help bridge the gap between humans and the endangered apes.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/09/2790545/orangutans-at-miami-zoo-use-ipads.html

---

This is very cool.

[Uncle Joe]

1. I believe over time this will be a most enlightening endeavor, perhaps they could expand it

to chimpanzees as well.

Thanks for the thread, iscooterliberally.

[catnhatnh]

2. And ultimately-REPUBLICANS.....N/T

[magic59]

3. What is next, Planet of the Apes?

Oh, we already went through that under republican rule during the 80's and 2000's.

[JHB]

7. Planet of the Apps

Gotta find out how well the Simianid operating system works. Probably much better for swingers.

[iscooterliberally]

9. I can't wait to 'friend' them on Facebook.

[AsahinaKimi]

17. I had recently seen the new movie

I was just thinking about it, as this was posted.

[Politicalboi]

6. That was good

[yodermon]

4. "but the clan's elders show no interest."

[bluesbassman]

13. They were heard to say "Get off my lawn!!!" though.

[AlbertCat]

5. "You can't tell their texts from the average teenager's," said a zoo official

NOT REALLY!

[Marrah_G]

10. hahahaha

I can easily believe that !!!!!!!!!!!

[Kingofalldems]

8. And I have no idea of how to use an iPad

[truthisfreedom]

11. Think of it as a big iPhone.

Without the phone.

[kestrel91316]

12. My assistant comments that this is Planet of the Apes and will be our downfall.

[frylock]

18. was just telling my colleagues the same..

are any of the orangs named dr. zaius?

[jwirr]

14. That certainly says something about the human race!!!!

[LTX]

27. What does it say about the human race? n/t

[jwirr]

28. We have not evolved all that far?

[LiberalCatholic]

15. Sadly,

Orangutans at Miami's Jungle Island are using more advanced technology than I am!

[JHB]

16. Fair play for gibbons!

They need some love. They're apes too but they don't even get mentioned in ape movies, much less tech swag.

[Prometheus Bound]

19. I think they should be focusing on basic job skills.

I don't know. I imagine two groups of orangutans - one having physical fun, swinging on the ropes and branches, fit and happy, and the other sitting on a rock with their iPads working on new vocabulary, unfit, uncommunicative with those around them.

[bvar22]

26. ...eating Doritoes, drinking Mountain Dew,

...and playing online RPGs.

[Sarcasticus]

20. Just great!

I'm stuck here with an Acer PC.

[KansDem]

21. Perhaps it's time to change the name to "oPads."

...hopes the devices will eventually help bridge the gap between humans and the endangered apes.

The Gap:
Humans <-- --> GOP <-- --> Endangered Apes

GOP = "Gap Of Primates"

[Yavin4]

22. Just Wait Until the Bonobo Monkeys Get iPads

I feel sorry for the zoo keepers who will have to clean their screens.

[JCMach1]

25. LOL

[red dog 1]

23. I'll bet Mitt Romney doesn't know how to use an iPad

[bpollen]

24. I tell ya...

Human beings slaved in sweatshops to produce Ipads and tablets for the mental stimulation of orangutans.

Irony!

And, as always, Apple decides what software they can run on it.

Orangs Unite! Throw off your corporate shackles!!! I mean, as long as the zookeepers are OK with it...