Bottlenose Dolphin Uses i-Pad

GreenTracker| Dolphin research scientist, Jack Kassewitz of SpeakDolphin.com is teaching a young bottlenose dolphin named Merlin how to use the Apple iPad. 

“The use of the iPad is part of our continuing search to find a suitable touch screen technology which the dolphins can activate with the tip of their rostrums or beaks. After extensive searching and product review, it looks like our choice is between the Panasonic Toughbook and the Apple iPad,” Kassewitz explained. “We think that once the dolphins get the hang of the touch screen, we can let them choose from a wide assortment of symbols to represent objects, actions and even emotions.”

The researchers are getting Merlin used to the screen by showing him the object first, then asking him to touch those same objects on the screen. Kassewitz says this is an easy task for a dolphin, but a necessary building block towards their goal of building a complete language interface between humans and dolphins.

Research is being conducted at Dolphin Discovery’s dolphin discovery facility in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. via BoingBoing