Zoos around the country have introduced orangutans to the iPad. Miami's Jungle Island uses an iPad to communicate and as part of a mental stimulus program. As with us, the young orangutans use it, the older ones don't. The zookeeper says, "They are sort of trapped in those bodies. They have the
intelligence that they need to communicate, but they don't have the
right equipment, because they don't have voice boxes or vocal cords. So
this gives them a way to let us know what they know, what they are
capable of, what they would like to have."
The software was originally designed for humans with autism. The screen
displays pictures of various objects. A trainer then names one of the
objects, and the ape presses the corresponding button.
The iPad does have limitations. The small screen causes orangutans to hit the wrong buttons
sometimes (Gee, is that a surprise?). The biggest limitation to the apes holding the device is its cost; the iPad is too fragile and would most likely be wrecked if held by the orangutans.
Since several zoos are using iPads with their orangutans there is a move towards creating video-conferencing software to reconnect
orangutans with friends and family members who have been transferred to
other zoos.
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