Planet of the Apes Becomes Reality with iPad

Planet of the Apes Becomes Reality with iPad

Socialeaf | Peter Del Bosque | 03/30/2012 8:47PM

Controlled by actual Bonobo apes? You heard right, the RoboBonobo, created by Ken Schweller, who heads programming at the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, says that the RoboBonobo was developed to aid in ape to human communication.

A prototype RoboBonobo

(Credit: Ken Schweller)

It works via touchscreen controls on an iPad. The apes simply control where the RoboBonobo goes and what it does. Creepily enough, Schweller has allowed the Bonobo apes the ability to blast visitors with water cannons affixed to the RoboBonobo. This is somewhat reminiscent to the Blockbuster film, 'Planet of the Apes,' where Apes became more advance than humans and also wield weapons against the human race, albeit they weren't water cannons.

Currently, the Bonobo apes work with touch-pad keyboards that are specifically designed with lexigram symbols used for ape to human communication. The touch-pads aren't exactly mobile, so Schweller has decided to create a Bonobo-chat app that will allow the touch-pad, lexigram, communication software to be readily available as an iPad app. Allowing the Bonobo's to use smaller touch-pads via the iPad will greatly enhance the Bonobo apes learning experience because of it's minimal size, ease of use and it's easy portability.

Schweller and Co. would like to make this kind of technology readily available for researchers so that ape to human communication can be more prevalent than it has ever been. Imagine going to a zoo and having a meaningful conversation with one of the apes on display. Or engaging in a challenging game of chess via the RoboBonobo controlled by a Bonobo ape.

Schweller is very passionate about his new technology and is trying to raise enough revenue to fund his RoboBonobo invention. Currently he has raised no more than $1,000 and needs $19,000 more to go to meet his goal. Watch the video below to see if you think the technology is worth investing in. If you do and you pledge more than $500, you will be allowed the privilege to speak via Skype to one of the speaking bonobo apes. Quite an investment with such a unique reward. The only other ways to get the chance to communicate to an ape is either by falling into a monkey exhibit and begging the ape not to tear you apart, or by spending thousands upon thousands of dollars at a top-notch school and spending many years studying to become an ape researcher.

You do the math.