All apes love their apps

December 31, 2011 3:04 AM

Orangutans playing with iPads! It is well-known that our ape cousins are highly intelligent. When they are in captivity, it is critical to give them ways to enrich and entertain themselves. As it turns out, Orangutans love using iPads.

The Apps for Apes program is trying to get donations to buy more iPads for Orangutans. They hope, eventually, "to offer bored orang-utans online 'primate play dates.'"

posted by Philosopher Dirtbike (22 comments total)

It's about time Gene Simmons upgraded.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:07 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

From the first linked article:

Research by Suzanne MacDonald from York University in Toronto, Canada, has shown that orang-utans can differentiate themselves from gorillas and other primates; whether they would connect a screen image with an actual individual is an interesting question, she says. If they can, play dates might prove useful for letting females view prospective mates.

OKCupid for orangs!
posted by likeso at 3:11 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

Origin of ORANGUTAN
Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest
First Known Use: 1691

so, OKCupid for orangs actually already exists.
posted by infini at 4:44 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]

There's an ape for that.
posted by srboisvert at 4:45 AM on December 31, 2011 [17 favorites]

Wouldn't the Kindle Fire be a more appropriate choice for the average Orangutan tablet user?
posted by fairmettle at 5:03 AM on December 31, 2011

Hey! Lookit the iPad users! They think they're people!
posted by Randwulf at 5:07 AM on December 31, 2011 [6 favorites]

THIS IS HOW IT STARTS!!!!
posted by spicynuts at 5:17 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]

With iPads distributed, he hopes to use Skype or Apple's networking software to set up video calls connecting orang-utans with friends - simian or human - no matter how far away.

So, chimproulette?
posted by hincandenza at 5:23 AM on December 31, 2011 [4 favorites]

I wish they'd bring back those PC vs. Mac commercials, because I'd really like to see John Hodgman work with a monkey.
posted by MegoSteve at 5:36 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

when we see an orangutan who calls to his female phone? Best ! :-))
posted by techno blogger at 5:53 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

An iPad would have been handy for Clyde on those long road trips.
posted by ian1977 at 6:02 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

Thanks to redapes.org, I have just discovered my favorite ever emoticon: {:(|}

I really dig orangutans.
posted by item at 7:11 AM on December 31, 2011 [6 favorites]

Zimmerman also plans to consult dolphin expert Jack Kassewitz for his experience using waterproofed iPads. "Orang-utans pee on everything," says Zimmerman.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:51 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]

lazaruslong: "Zimmerman also plans to consult dolphin expert Jack Kassewitz for his experience using waterproofed iPads. "Orang-utans pee on everything," says Zimmerman."

Little late - he's been doing it since at least May 2010.

I looked into his theory, and I'm a bit annoyed that he doesn't seem to have published research. Not to take one sentient's glory (is sitting in a cage like that really glory?) but, wanted to share Kassewitz's idea that basically dolphin sonar is both for vision and communication and that when they communicate, they can transmit the Sonar image of what they saw via the waveforms. It's a fucking sweet idea, but it looks like he keeps his research secret which bothers me.

So yeah on the dolphin thing, and ...

I just got sad looking at this orangutans in this cage, sticking one little finger out. How fucking depressing.
posted by symbioid at 8:21 AM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]

All the orangutans I know are holding out for Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:28 AM on December 31, 2011 [4 favorites]

If you give an orangutan an iPad, he'll probably want some apps...
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 9:23 AM on December 31, 2011 [5 favorites]

Bad idea.

Bad, bad idea ... I know this will end with one of those goddamn brutes gnawing on my skull.
posted by Relay at 11:03 AM on December 31, 2011

Isn't that what Reddit is for?
posted by webhund at 2:01 PM on December 31, 2011

Metafilter: isn't that what Reddit is for?
posted by AdamCSnider at 4:03 PM on December 31, 2011

I wrote that NewSci article in the first link. Be happy to answer any questions. The program is really in its infancy. Ape-proofing is the big hurdle.

And Apple won't even call them back, sadly.
posted by gottabefunky at 5:06 PM on December 31, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oh, and the name they had in mind for the Skype pre-screening, suggested by a young volunteer, was O-Harmony.
posted by gottabefunky at 5:07 PM on December 31, 2011

Palm oil threat to Indonesia's orangutans
posted by homunculus at 5:19 PM on December 31, 2011