Dolphin Gets an iPad

The fact that there is a dolphin using an iPad is perhaps less amazing than the surprise that Apple’s marketing department had nothing to do with it. Yes, Merlin the dolphin has an iPad, and he and his trainer are using it to better understand each other’s communication patterns. If successful, the Apple gadget may help break the dolphin-human language barrier.

Ever since the debut of the iPad, there have a plethora of cats, dogs, birds and mice playing with the Apple gadget. Though some, like the amazing cat Iggy, seem to demonstrate a level of self-awareness about the iPad, Merlin is the first mammal to use it as a learning tool.

The innovative program was the brainchild of dolphin researcher Jack Kassewitz of Speak Dolphin, an organization dedicated to unlocking the secrets of cetacean communication. Kassewitz explains:

The use of the iPad is part of our continuing search to find a suitable touchscreen technology which the dolphins can activate with the tip of their rostrums or beaks … We think that once the dolphins get the hang of the touchscreen, we can let them choose from a wide assortment of symbols to represent objects, actions and even emotions.

The researchers have found a way to waterproof the iPad and are now using it to help Merlin — an animal that lives in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico — to make associations between physical objects and digital representations of those objects. The next step will be to layer in verbs and prepositions, making the dream of interactive communication with the brainiest animals on the planet a true possibility.

Image Credit: Speak Dolphin

By Karl Burkart, MNN

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Teresa W.

1:16PM PST on Feb 13, 2011

How will the dolphin use it?

send a green star

Lidia F.

9:43PM PDT on Sep 24, 2010

Dolphins are beautiful and loving.I had a beautiful blue crystal dolpin,but it broke.:(

Monique D.

2:30PM PDT on Sep 21, 2010

I love dolphins, thanks for a great story

Shraddha J.

12:19PM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

Dolphins are sooooooooooo cute,amazing,and intelligent. But i don think they should be kept in captivity

mr C.

1:45AM PDT on Jun 22, 2010

and here i was thinking that dolphins were too smart to fall for apple products... :-p

Charmaine C.

9:32AM PDT on Jun 19, 2010

It's such a shame that we think the universe revolves around us. Everything else out there that shares this amazing place with us, has an understanding of the rhythm of nature. We are the only creatures that do not and destroy everything we touch.

Lika S.

1:12AM PDT on Jun 19, 2010

I love dolphins!

Eric W.

2:48PM PDT on Jun 16, 2010

dolphins are more intelligent than human beings

Emily P.

I am really torn on this one. While I think it is wrong to have dolphins in captivity, at the same time, there are many, and I am hoping that the more we learn about how intelligent these creatures are, the less willing we will be to treat them poorly.

Then again, we humans don't really treat ourselves that well.. :(

Jean D.

10:51AM PDT on Jun 16, 2010

Sorry, I don't think these animals should be held hostage. I wish all the parks that hold these ocean animals would revamp and become ocean animal rescue centers and allow the 'inmates' to live out their lives in freedom.