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Scientists in Search of a Common Language With Dolphins | Science and Technology | Learning English/*
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RSS FeedScientists in Search of a Common Language With Dolphins ?21 March 2011
Photo: APBottlenose dolphins swim in the Georgia Aquarium last month in Atlanta Share ThisDiggYahoo! BuzzFacebookdel.icio.usStumbleUponTO DOWNLOAD the MP3 of this story, click on the MP3 link in the upper right corner of the page. Double-click any word to find the definition in the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
BOB DOUGHTY:This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English. I’m Bob Doughty.
FAITH LAPIDUS: And I’m Faith Lapidus. Today, we tell about efforts by American scientists to communicate with dolphins. We also tell about applications programs for computers, better known as apps. We tell how a sharp increase in demand for apps has affected computer science programs at many universities.
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: People have always been able to talk to animals. The problem is: do they really talk back? And what are they saying? When a dog barks three times, is he really communicating? Or is he hoping to get praise or even food for his actions?
And what about dolphins? Are their squeaks and whistles really communication? Or are they just noises? Scientists have thought for a long time that dolphins have their own language and can “talk” among themselves. But is it possible for them to communicate with us?
FAITH LAPIDUS: Denise Herzing is a biologist with the Wild Dolphin Project in Jupiter, Florida. She has studied the animals for over twenty years. Her latest work involves creating a language that both dolphins and humans can understand.
Members of her team lower a keyboard into the water. Then a diver pushes one of the keys to show the dolphin how it works. When the key is pushed, someone above the water throws a ball to the diver. At the same time, a high frequency whistle is produced. The sound is something that the dolphin can hear, and also make. The dolphin then learns that to get the ball, it can either push the key, or make the whistle sound. The result is real communication between an animal and a human.
BOB DOUGHTY: Ms. Herzing found that young female dolphins like to play this game the most. Young males were not as interested. Another thing she learned was that dolphins played the game best after being “introduced” to humans. Divers first swim with the dolphins in slow, easy movements. They look directly at its eyes. If a dolphin swims one way, the diver does what the dolphin does. After a while, the dolphins become friendly and are ready to play the language game.
FAITH LAPIDUS: At the Dolphin Institute in Hawaii, scientists have taught dolphins hundreds or words. They use hand and body movements, and pictures to teach the dolphins. They found that dolphins could learn the difference between a statement and a question. And they learned that changing the order of words in a sentence can change the meaning.
Scientists at the SETI Institute in California are also interested in communicating with animals. Their job is to listen to sounds coming from outer space that might be signs of life. If they were to find distant life forms, how would they communicate with them? They think using a language like “dolphin talk” may be the answer.
(SOUND)
APAn iPad with many choices of apps
BOB DOUGHTY: Have you ever played a simple video game on a mobile phone? If you have, you are a mobile app user. And you have experienced a small part of a revolution in computing.
People are buying and using mobile apps at an increasing rate in the United States and in other countries. Earlier this year, Apple announced the ten billionth mobile app download from its App Store website. The App Store currently offers about three hundred fifty thousand apps for iPhones and other Apple products.
Google offers apps for its Android mobile operating system through its Android Market. And many companies directly sell apps for use with their products. For example, General Motors has developed an app that gathers information about its new hybrid car, the Chevy Volt.
FAITH LAPIDUS: University professors in computer sciences have a good idea about the growing number of apps that are becoming available. Many professors offer classes in which they guide computer engineering students in building apps. Some of the resulting products have been very creative and gained popularity.
Marc Buchner is an associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. He says apps are really nothing new.
MARC BUCHNER: “Applications, or apps, are really short for application programs. And these are the things that run on computers: your pc’s, your macs, and run on mobile devices such as iPhones and Android devices. But they’re all programs.”
FAITH LAPIDUS: Apps are programs -- a series of instructions or orders for computing devices. When computers only sat in offices, applications were just another word for software programs. But with wireless devices, something changed. Now, you have computing power anywhere you go.
BOB DOUGHTY: Marc Buchner says the way people get apps is also different from earlier methods of getting software. Traditionally, software came on plastic CDs. It also could be downloaded on computers. But the payment process takes time and generally requires a keyboard.
Professor Buchner says he sees three ways in which apps have changed computing. With apps, he says, a user can search for an interesting product and pay for it quickly. Payment is easy and the result is immediate.
Apps are also low cost. Many are free. Others are a few dollars at most.
Marc Buchner adds that an important part of the app revolution is that a lot of people are getting involved in making them.
MARC BUCHNER: “Because these things are so accessible, there are [a] very, very large number of people that are developing apps.”
FAITH LAPIDUS: Being able to carry apps anywhere opens new possibilities for computer programmers. An app can be as simple as a program that turns a mobile phone into a flashlight to light your way at night. Or apps can be more complex. They can use satellite positioning information to tell you where you are. Or they can give you directions to the nearest store where you can buy something you want.
Manuel Perez-Quinones is a computer engineering professor at Virginia Tech University. He says it is easy for designers to understand how people will use their apps because they are designed with a clear task in mind. This clear and immediate usefulness provides motivation for many programmers who make mobile apps.
And there is a technical reason for apps popularity among developers.
MANUEL PEREZ-QUINONES: “The other part is on Apple and Google in the case of Android. They’ve made it really easy to build entry level applications. And a lot of the apps you see on the phones and all these mobile devices are very simple.”
FAITH LAPIDUS: Last year, Google launched Google App Inventor for Android. Its software lets anyone build an app for their mobile phone with an Android operating system.
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: The sharp increase in demand for apps has been good news for computer science programs at many universities. The Computing Research Association in Washington says a drop in the number of students taking computer sciences classes started in two thousand two. The group’s most recent complete study shows enrollment in computer sciences increased five and a half percent in two thousand nine.
Jobs related to apps are also increasing. In January, Google announced plans to employ software developers to help it create more apps for mobile devices. Experts say this is so the Internet search company can compete with Apple.
FAITH LAPIDUS: Yet, mobile apps have not always been loved. Manuel Perez-Quinones says Apple did not want developers building apps for the first iPhone. The idea was that a personal computer, not a phone, was the right place for a computer program. But Apple changed. The company has since become a leader in app sales by providing mobile devices, like the iPod, iPhone and iPad, which use them.
Marc Buchner says there is a lot of energy and excitement in the field of computer apps. He says the combination of useful computing tasks that can be carried everywhere is at the heart of this.
MARC BUCHNER: “It’s exciting to be able to expand what you can do with something you are carrying around in your pocket or your purse.”
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Mario Ritter and Jim Tedder. June Simms was our producer. I’m Bob Doughty.
FAITH LAPIDUS: And I’m Faith Lapidus. What would you like in an English learning mobile app if you could have one designed just for you? Tell us at voaspencialenglish.com. Or go to voaspecialenglish.com where you can find transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our programs. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.
Listen? Email? Print? Comments?Comments (76)21-03-2011Joruji(Japan)I would like an app that ask questions about English grammar, vocabulary, and expression that VOA's Learning English Facebook users have learned from the English Doctor's and English Traveler's online lessons.
22-03-2011xiang(china)VOA !!fantastic!!
22-03-2011Ngát(Vi?t Nam)I love dolphins, they're so cute but I haven't ever seen a dolphin by face.
22-03-2011陈鑫(china（中华人民共和国）)my English is just soso,but I never give up,come on!!!
22-03-2011yuyu(china)there is a big business in apps market.
22-03-2011Jongbok Park(south korea(U.S))Thank You very much for the efforts by Mario Ritter, Jim Tedder, June Simms and Bob Doughty.I like science and technology news.
22-03-2011Aryan(Iran)I would like an app to clarify 5 new words automatically during a day. It would be better if the definitions be english to english and also with picture related to the word.
22-03-2011Hun(Korea)How about an app which looks like other News apps like CNN and NYT?
22-03-2011WinsorAre there new mobile phone out? If so, how much do they cost?. Thank you for bringing in this information. We appreciated!!!! See you next time. Voa is the best site on world news and elsewhere news.
22-03-2011Genildo Pereira Flor(Brazil)Hello, folks and voaI′m very exciting about your content, every thing here is good to learn and improve my English day by day. I hope you go on inovating and creating more resourse like : How speak like a native or an american citizen.Thanks for all and sucsses.Bye and see you soon.
22-03-2011Marcel 1(Brazil)I wanna get a app for useful phrasal verbs in English where I can spend my lunch time to learn English. I used use my cellphone aplication (which runs Java) to study English, I use a app for reading ebook in pdf and doc, then I can study and improve my Skills in English. It would be good app in java to cheapers mobile so that Iphone and Android are very expensive and those mobile generally don't have 2 chips.
22-03-2011bthieu(viet nam)thanks so muchit's very interesting
22-03-2011J.u.l.i.a.n.a(Brazil)I think you might make this text in two texts: one about communication among animals and humans and other text about apps and popularity of mobile device. It is olnly a suggestion.Good report.
22-03-2011Miriam R(USA)It was a interesting report about app and tecnologic and we can learn more vocabulario .
22-03-2011Phantom(viet nam)It's very good. I will listen more and more ...
22-03-2011Albert018I would like my app could talk to me,just like an assistant or secratary,or even more like a friend.in this way,my English ability probably improve rapidly.~^^~
22-03-2011Haydar(Turkiye)Firstly I want you to know how I'm grateful for this extremely beneficial website. I can suggest that we can constitute a group in which we can discuss and improve our english skills. A group through skype would be nice I think.
22-03-2011Aliyu Kinkilo Shabu(Nasarawa State, Nigeria)In reality, animals perfectly communicate among their family group only. e.g, a cat and a cat, a cow and a cow, a lion and a lion etc. scientists(biologists, psychologists etc) can only predict or claim but forever can never understand animals communications perfectly, rather they will continuous use clue to understand and appreciate them.
22-03-2011Maki(Japan)Since I finished reading this article, I have thought of what app I'd like to use for quite a while. As I like to chart with people via voice, so I want such an app. Currently I have only an ordinary notebook computer which is big without a smart phone, so if I had such a small device, I could talk with someone easily. I hope time comes when people can communicate with each other more readily.
22-03-2011zuzia(Poland)I love animals :) . This articul about Dolphins is very interesting . I would like see and touch Dolphin , it could be amazing experience .
22-03-2011Mar(Mexico)someone who want speak with me english, for practice plis.
22-03-2011Alex Smirnov(Russia)Thanks. The report about dolphins is interesting. Also I am interested in communicating with peoples by using apps.
23-03-2011ngocanh(VietNam)Thanks VOA
23-03-2011chocoI have a ipad ,it is a uesful thing for my life .however it takes up all my life ,i even can not control myself to use it,It is terrible!
23-03-2011RenZhibo(China)Come On ,I ｎｅｒｖｅｒ ｇｉｖｅ ｕｐ
23-03-2011Abo Aondofa Ephraim(Nigeria)Good research indeed, but we were wondering if Dolphins could speak out!
23-03-2011Artry(the PRC)I used to buy VOA books. However, I find a better place to improve my English now. Thank you for your contributions very much.
23-03-2011wwh0511(china)wishing the life in the future can be what we want by the different apps run on machines!Happiness is so simple
23-03-2011Lety MexicoThis report es very very interesting, I love dolphis
23-03-2011Misko(Croatia)I love the dolphins, thanks for beatiful story
23-03-2011yanci(china)it very good , i like listen more
23-03-2011Chih Min Huang(Taiwan)Dolphines are really smart. I believe the human will exactly communicate with dolphine. In terms of apps, I feel that computer programers are pitiful because the progress of computer science is too fast to follow by programer.
23-03-2011Alicia(USA)VOA It's wonderful all you do for us! Thanks.
23-03-2011linh(Vietnam)love VOA so so so much!!!
23-03-2011naif ?ift?i(turkey)voa is the best webside for learning engish...
23-03-2011tram(vietnam)this is very important to found another language in animal. hope it will be true and we can use it, understand it. how a lovely animal
24-03-2011Caelyn(China)I like the VOA Special English,it's very good for me whom start learning!
24-03-2011phuongbaby(vi?t nam)very exciting and useful for me to learn english. the moment, i want to travel to america at once
24-03-2011Eric(China)VOA is so useful for english learner
24-03-2011tam do(Vietnam)it's an interesting study! Dolphins is so smart. we should love animals more and protect them.
24-03-2011wentao(chinese)It's wonderful , I found this web this afernoon ,I will come here frequntly
24-03-2011liujin(Cina)this is my what I want to listen to！！
24-03-2011chenjin(china)OK! thanks VOA.
24-03-2011Hanson(China)Thanks to providers!It's helpful for everyone.
24-03-2011xilong(china)agree to J.u.l.i.a.n.athis text should be divided into two articles. One about dolphin，the other apps.
24-03-2011麦子熙(CHINA)it is wonderful
24-03-2011Xerome(Korea)thanks a lot for useful information.
24-03-2011tran(VIetnam)this's so helpful for me :D and interesting,too
25-03-2011chang(south korea)My friend is computer programer. Apps give him new oppertunities. He is making game program. He say he earn about 20 dollars for 2 months. I think Steve Jobs made many jobs.
25-03-2011yiju(taiwai)i like voa very much
25-03-2011Siriwan(Thailand)Thank you so much for the interesting topic. I think the conversation is a bit slow or it is not nature. I would love to hear the real speech of the conversation. Thanks.
25-03-2011heeseung(korea)thank you^^VOAI don't give up.I have to try again &again evryday!!
25-03-2011Roc(China)I'd like an app that helps explain the meanings of the words I don't understand when I do some reading on my iPhone or iPad.
25-03-2011drac(China)long ago the apps-like program emerged on mobiles, but not until apple makes it get close to perfect in many of its fantastic handsets, ipod, ipad, especially iphone, does the public get to fall in love with it, in a word, powerful strength always wins.
25-03-2011Ganga(Sri Lanka)It is very useful to develop listening capacity together with knowledge.Thank you very much.
25-03-2011JK(KOREA)so good. and interesting
25-03-2011adonis(thailand)I like it and VOA too,
25-03-2011Pisey(Cambodia)I love VOA.VOA is very important for all English learners.Thanks VOA.
25-03-2011yury(china)bothe the research of dolphin and mobile phone proclaim the progress of humanbeing in the world .
25-03-2011mido(egypt)thank you v o a !!!! fantastic
25-03-2011Edison(Duitama, Colombia)Thanks for teach me with your page VOA.
25-03-2011Rafael(Venezuela)I am very happy because I fell that can practice and Learn More English at the same time that read things so amazing like languaje in animals
25-03-2011yasemin(turkey)?t is very useful ? think thank you...
25-03-2011Alex(Serbia)I don speak eng. please halp me..I can't learn alone language;((((( understand but just it.
25-03-2011aza(Russia)Thanks, interesting article, very very gud site, I hope that I will undestand english as american people. I seem that english languge is easier than chine languge for all us, who live in East Europas. And therefore we must study its
25-03-2011Caamir Seed(smcaamri@aol.com)Here in Africa how easily could we learn an American English?
27-03-2011huyen(vietnam)great
27-03-2011Susumu(Japan)I'm the one of iphone users all over the world. I could study English wherever and whenever I stayed through the apps which help study. Nowdays I'm into studying Mandarin(Chinese simplified) by the iphone apps.
28-03-2011www.aly3.tk(indonesia)also valuable for my son...thanks for its clear description...
28-03-2011Vanda Monaco(Sweden)The part about dolphins is emotionally involving. The part about apps is energetical: with apps I get happy!By practicing with VOA my English is getting much better because I learn it while being in the real world! Thanks! Vanda
29-03-2011anhtrang(vietnam)it is wonderful. VOA,i love it
29-03-2011Thanks.
31-03-2011Leo Chou(China)dolphins are very lovely,but they are suffering human's hurt and kill.More and more pollution not only kill animals ,but also kill ourselves in the end .I don't know why the government which in one planet don't combat this problem？ And many authories claim that China shoud take measure to prevent pollutting they country .I feel it's very unblieved.
31-03-2011Hadi(Indinesia)Excellent, I like it too much. Thanks
03-04-2011Kitty(Vietnam)What an interesting information! Thanks very much!
04-04-2011Kim Hyeon Jae(Korea)Dolphin is cute.
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