Aussie researchers to develop more video games for orangutans at Melbourne Zoo

Orangutans at Australia's Melbourne Zoo will soon have more customized video games to play in their habitat, following the success of the world-first interactive study which aimed to entertain and stimulate the highly intelligent animals.

Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Melbourne's Microsoft Research Centre collaborated with Zoos Victoria to experiment the use of interactive video games for the orangutans, a unique native Asian species.

Social NUI researcher Dr Marcus Carter said they found the program resulted in a positive impact on the orangutans and their interactions with zoo visitors.

"We're planning on running a longer study for a few months next year to explore more ideas and better understand how they take to the games over a longer period of time," Carter told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) program, The Catalyst, on Tuesday.

The researchers developed and trialed games based on the orangutans' responses, using Kinect 3D technology from Microsoft's Xbox One gaming system.

The team initially designed a game using "intelligent projections," which turned the floor of their enclosure into a touch screen. The game projected images onto the floor.

The orangutans' movements surprised researchers after they played the first game. The orangutans interacted not just with the projection on the floor, but with how the light projected onto their bodies.

"We tried to not make assumptions about the ways they might want to use technology. We're really trying to learn from what they do,"Carter said.

The results from the trial led the researchers to develop a video game which would allow the orangutans to play the game from inside their enclosure, while also allowing for a person to play on the outside of it.

Researchers believe this interaction will allow humans and orangutans to safely share moments together and develop a stronger bond, which in turn could help change the perception of the animals.

The Melbourne researchers are currently developing a new audio game for the orangutans, which will play music when the orangutans move colored objects.

Although the orangutans have not played this game yet, it is hoped they will soon be able to compose their own songs through it. Endit