Even Apes use iPads

Tablet of the Apes

What began as an April Fool's Day gag - a Photoshopped image of a gorilla using an iPad - soon became a reality when the Milwaukee County Zoo handed the device to its orangutans. Since iPads are allegedly so intuitive that anyone can use them, Trish Khan, supervisor of the primate and ape area at the zoo, thought the tablet could be a great enrichment opportunity for the great apes and donated her old one. At first, the orangutans were just shown pictures and videos of themselves and were not allowed to handle the device. "Their reaction was rather interesting," says Khan. "They took to it immediately. One of them put his arms above his head and clapped while the other stared intently." Then there were allowed to tinker with painting and drawing apps while a zookeeper protected the iPad from damage. The apes have a basic understanding of how the touch screen works, which is good for their cognitive development, Khan says. Next the zoo hopes to develop its own apps for apes and help them Skype with apes from other zoos.

Lauren Brousell
CIO
December 1, 2011

See http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3503234/Gorillas-get-iPads-to-aid-alertness-and-keep-them-happier-in-zoos.html for the Photoshopped images.