Orangutans to use iPads, video chat thanks to Apps for Apes project
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The Apps for Apes program allows people to donate used iPads, which are then distributed to selected zoos. The program has apparently been quite successful, and the plan is now to introduce WiFi to many of the orangutan enclosures to enable video “chat”.
This may sound a little to “Plant of the Apes” to you, but orangutan handlers are excited about using the tablets as a form of enrichment, as great apes frequently exhibit signs of boredom or even depression if not given something to do in zoos. Orangutans in the Milwaukee, WI pilot program enjoy digital paint apps, playing favorite songs (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star), and watching videos of other orangutans. In other words, teach them how to post status updates and it’s more or less the same way most of us use tablets.
While enriching the lives of the animal’s is an important goal, Orangutan Outreach will also be making the video play dates available online for humans to watch (talk about your invasion of privacy!), in an attempt to help teach us about the individuality that orangutans can exhibit. Even in video watching there are apparently many differences; at the Milwaukee County Zoo a young orangutan named Mahal is reported to enjoy videos of penguins, while his mother has a preference for David Attenborough wildlife documentaries.
Perhaps she expects to catch a glimpse of a relative?
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source: Yahoo News via The Verge
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28 Comments
1. haroonazeem638 posted on 06 Apr 2012, 15:31 2 1
LOL. Waiting for the funniest, meanest comments by fanboys.
GO!
7. Mandroid posted on 06 Apr 2012, 16:06 4 1
Hmmm....I got one! Even a primate can see the "new"ipad is the same thing apple released a year ago!
That's actually what the one in the pic is thinking "you uh, you said this was the "new" ipad and yet you hand me an ipad2. I may be a dumb primate, but do not insult my intelligence, sir."
23. PhoneArenaUser posted on 07 Apr 2012, 12:02 0 1
You will newer get this iPad:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=LK7LyxgrWS4
24. PhoneArenaUser posted on 07 Apr 2012, 12:03 0 1
You will newer get this iPad:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=LK7LyxgrWS4
2. roscuthiii posted on 06 Apr 2012, 15:48 0 0
Oh great... just when I was hedging my bets on the Robo Apocalypse beating the Zombie Apocalypse to the punch, the possibility of the Planet of the Ape-Pocalypse has to jump into the mix!
3. jibraihimi posted on 06 Apr 2012, 15:56 0 0
Ooh sh*t now Apes will have reason to overtake the planet earth, and convert it into 'planet of Apes'.......... That reason will be ipads, apes will demand that every new ipads launched in future, should be launched exclusively for them, or else they wll over take earth....... :)
5. haroonazeem638 posted on 06 Apr 2012, 16:02 2 0
Lol. Apes (iApple users) have already taken over the world. But no worries...that is why Android was made to kick their as* ;)
6. Mandroid posted on 06 Apr 2012, 16:05 3 0
Awesome. We have the worst educational system of the first world countries, astronomicla crime rates, people losing their homes an jobs, folks that can't even feed themselves, and we're giving tablets to apes just for s***s and giggles. Priorities.
8. Whateverman posted on 06 Apr 2012, 16:32 2 1
Hold up! Did I just read that right? They want to supply primates with iPads and develop apps for apes? WTF??? This is stupid!
10. Whateverman posted on 06 Apr 2012, 17:10 2 0
LMAO!!! Yeah, Charlton Heston is gonna go...APE SH*T... When he hears about this!
25. anywherehome posted on 07 Apr 2012, 16:34 0 0
why? thats already been happening since the first iPhone :)
11. cripton805 posted on 06 Apr 2012, 17:48 1 1
Instead of helping the homeless or starving kids they give ipad to apes? Isnt there cheaper alternatives. Sell the ipads and make money for kids. People these days are dumb as hell.
20. ardent1 posted on 07 Apr 2012, 05:38 0 2
andro: This might come as a surprise to you but android users are also primates.
21. frydaexiii posted on 07 Apr 2012, 07:16 3 0
Nope, If I remember, Android was given military testing while iPads were given to monkeys to play with. That kinda already tells you what OS is for what kind of "people".
27. robinrisk posted on 08 Apr 2012, 09:01 0 0
Yup. Also all human beings are primates. No need to separate android users from Apple users.
Unless Android users are Primates and Apple users are sheep. That would be a valid distinction. :P
15. youmadbro posted on 06 Apr 2012, 21:15 5 0
Well that's not much of a surprise as it was designed for them in the first place.
16. Cyan3boN posted on 06 Apr 2012, 22:12 0 0
as far as I know, orangutans are not much fond of apples.
17. networkdood posted on 06 Apr 2012, 22:48 6 0
Wow, if an orangutan can use an iPAD, then I am sure TACO can use one, too!!
22. PhoneArenaUser posted on 07 Apr 2012, 12:01 0 0
Are you want to say that taco sits down in the cage and writes comments for PhoneArena with his iPad ?
It reminds me:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK7LyxgrWS4
19. adi4u4882 posted on 07 Apr 2012, 01:38 3 0
It was designed for ape's in the first place who blindly buy is**t.
26. chapizzo posted on 08 Apr 2012, 05:10 0 0
Hahahaha, this really some crazy stuff. I hope the ipad users don't take it as an insult to their intelligence.
