ComScore: Facebook Is Now the Most Used Mobile App in US
Everyone from potty-training toddlers to Web-surfing seniors have a working knowledge of mobile devices, and now, so do primates.
At 13 zoos around the world, including the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., orangutans are playing online games, with the help of Orangutan Outreach and the Apps for Apes program.
The D.C.-based zoo joined the program last year; in the past few months, the zoo's application repertoire has grown to more than 10 apps, including musical instruments, cognitive games, and drawing programs.
"Apps for Apes fits perfectly in this new era of zoo keeping," Becky Malinsky, great ape keeper at the National Zoo, said in a statement. "It's about changing up the day-to-day lives of our animals. We already vary their food, toys and social interactions every day, but the iPad offers another way to engage their sight, touch and hearing."
The tablet isn't exactly a new learning tool for the National Zoo's orangutans, who have been using touch-screen monitors since 1994 as part of a cognitive study to test the mammals' memory, tool use, and social learning. But the zoo was inspired to join the app-based program when a keeper's family member donated an iPad to the Great Ape House last year.
According to animal keeper Erin Stromberg, the program stresses the orangutan's own choices — "If they're engaged in the app, we'll keep going," she said. "If not, they have the choice to walk away."
Use of the tablet is meant to tap less into critical thinking and more into a creative outlet, Stromberg said. It seems to be working, especially for 36-year-old orangutan Bonnie, who likes to bang on virtual drums, while 16-year-old Kyle prefers to tap piano keys. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Iris (pictured) is happy to just relax to the soothing sounds of the koi pond app while watching animated fish splash.
"Primarily, we want the Apps for Apes program to help people understand why we need to protect wild orangutans from extinction," Orangutan Outreach founding director Richard Zimmerman said in a statement. "We do that when we show Zoo visitors how similar humans and apes are, be it through observation, talking with wildlife experts or seeing the apes use the same technology we use every day."
Eventually, the National Zoo hopes to connect its orangutans with primates at other zoos using video conferencing.
Anyone looking to ditch their old iPad or who just wants to donate to the National Zoo's program can purchase an iTunes gift card or find out more about sending tablets to orangutans around the world via the zoo's website.
Get a look at the Apps for Apes program in action with the Smithsonian's video below.
At 13 zoos around the world, including the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., orangutans are playing online games, with the help of Orangutan Outreach and the Apps for Apes program.
The D.C.-based zoo joined the program last year; in the past few months, the zoo's application repertoire has grown to more than 10 apps, including musical instruments, cognitive games, and drawing programs.
"Apps for Apes fits perfectly in this new era of zoo keeping," Becky Malinsky, great ape keeper at the National Zoo, said in a statement. "It's about changing up the day-to-day lives of our animals. We already vary their food, toys and social interactions every day, but the iPad offers another way to engage their sight, touch and hearing."
The tablet isn't exactly a new learning tool for the National Zoo's orangutans, who have been using touch-screen monitors since 1994 as part of a cognitive study to test the mammals' memory, tool use, and social learning. But the zoo was inspired to join the app-based program when a keeper's family member donated an iPad to the Great Ape House last year.
According to animal keeper Erin Stromberg, the program stresses the orangutan's own choices — "If they're engaged in the app, we'll keep going," she said. "If not, they have the choice to walk away."
Use of the tablet is meant to tap less into critical thinking and more into a creative outlet, Stromberg said. It seems to be working, especially for 36-year-old orangutan Bonnie, who likes to bang on virtual drums, while 16-year-old Kyle prefers to tap piano keys. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Iris (pictured) is happy to just relax to the soothing sounds of the koi pond app while watching animated fish splash.
"Primarily, we want the Apps for Apes program to help people understand why we need to protect wild orangutans from extinction," Orangutan Outreach founding director Richard Zimmerman said in a statement. "We do that when we show Zoo visitors how similar humans and apes are, be it through observation, talking with wildlife experts or seeing the apes use the same technology we use every day."
Eventually, the National Zoo hopes to connect its orangutans with primates at other zoos using video conferencing.
Anyone looking to ditch their old iPad or who just wants to donate to the National Zoo's program can purchase an iTunes gift card or find out more about sending tablets to orangutans around the world via the zoo's website.
Get a look at the Apps for Apes program in action with the Smithsonian's video below.
Report by :
Stephanie Mlot
0 comments:
Post a Comment