Research to inform development of interactive enrichment activities in zoos
Zoo animals could be given greater stimulus and lead more fulfilling lives following research that studied monkeys and their use of interactive systems.
The researchers from Glasgow University found that white-faced saki monkeys at Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki preferred to use their mouths, teeth and hands to pull switches and swing panels from side to side.
Their collaboration, which suggests that monkeys may have their own preferences for the design of buttons, could inform the development of interactive enrichment activities for zoo animals in the future.
The research, presented today (February 27, 2023) at the International Conference on Tangible Embedded and Embodied Interaction in Warsaw, is a joint project by animal-computer interaction specialists Vilma Kankaanpää and Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas.
In a statement, Dr Hirskyj-Douglas, of Glasgow University’s School of Computing Science, said: “Interactive digital systems have a lot of potential for enriching the lives of zoo animals by giving them new experiences and more control over their daily activities. However, it’s still a new field of research, and we have a lot to learn about how animals want to interact with computer systems.”
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Water Sector Talent Exodus Could Cripple The Sector
Maybe if things are essential for the running of a country and we want to pay a fair price we should be running these utilities on a not for profit...