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Posted: 27th February 2023

Study reveals monkeys use mouths and hands for interactive systems
White-faced saki monkeys prefer to use their mouths, teeth and hands to pull switches and and swing panels from side to side.
Findings could help develop enrichment activities for zoo animals.

During an investigation into how monkeys use interactive systems, researchers from the University of Glasgow found that white-faced saki monkeys prefer to use their mouths, teeth and hands to pull switches and and swing panels from side to side.

Animal-computer interaction specialists Vilma Kankaanpää and Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas studied three white-faced saki monkeys in the enclosure at the Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki.

In a development process called rapid prototyping (more commonly used in human-computer interaction), the animals were shown a series of interactive wooden panels, which gave them the opportunity to push levers, press buttons, pull balls and swing a panel. These interactions were chosen because they could all be used to operate interactive systems in the future.

The monkeys appeared to show a preference for interactive systems that allowed them to use their mouths and hands to pull and swing items. They also chose buttons, levers and switches that were colourful, and of a convenient size for their hands and mouth.

Ms Kankaanpää said: “Many previous designs have tasked animals with controlling computers in human-like ways - using their fingers to touch screens, for example. However, animals often interact with the world in distinctly different ways from humans. They use their mouths, feet and tails as well as their hands, and may prefer to use that expanded range of interaction for interactive activities.

“What we wanted to explore was whether we could develop a system of interaction in co-operation with saki monkeys, which centred on their preferences and could help guide future iterations of animal-facing interactive systems.”

Dr Hirskyj-Douglas commented: “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.”

Image (C) University of Glasgow



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