The orangutans at Australia’s Melbourne Zoo are getting to play video games using an Xbox Kinect. The gaming console was designed by Microsoft and will be allowing the animals to learn technology and challenge their minds.
The researchers have created a game, called Zap, that projects a red dot that explodes when it is touched by both the primate and a human.
“As interactive game designers we use what we call participatory design. We work with the people who use the products and they provide input and feedback for prototypes,” says Sarah Webber, a PhD candidate working on the project. “You can’t have those conversations with animals, so we have to find new ways to include them as participants in the design process.”
While Zap is the only game available right now, the gaming console will be getting more games to cater to the orangutans’ interests and different personalities.
“These individual differences are things we can use as inspiration to design something that is complex and motivates them to solve puzzles,” said Webber . “We know apes can successfully use touch screens but they are very task orientated, so we want to see if we can devise experiences that are inherently engaging to them.”
For example, the team is working on an application called Orangstram to help the primates take pictures of themselves and peruse a library.
Thus far, researchers have been using tablets when experimenting with primates but it has had limitations.
"They enjoyed using the tablet but we wanted to give them something more, something they can use when they choose to," said animal welfare specialist at Zoos Victoria, Sally Sherwen, in a statement . “We think that by providing new experiences and promoting positive behaviours, this form of digital enrichment may have the potential to significantly improve their welfare."
Researchers from Zoos Victoria and the University of Melbourne's Microsoft Research Centre for Social Natural User Interfaces say this is the first project of its kind.
