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Dolphin Communication Device

People have always wanted to be able to communicate better with animals. Now, a limited form of communication with dolphins and other marine mammals may be possible with the patented Marine Mammal Communication Device. Instead of simply being trained to respond to commands which are generally given via hand gestures, dolphins could use what's effectively a giant keyboard to communicate in the other direction.

The device is designed such that when a specific key is pressed "audible feedback is provided to the dolphin and its trainers in the form of a preselected and programmed spoken human word, and visual feedback in the form of lighting can be provided to show the key which was selected."

One very strange aspect of the patent is that it also envisages dolphins using this mechanism to communicate with each other:

"The present invention provides an innovative communication device and learning tool for enabling marine mammals to learn and use symbolic communications to communicate with humans and with each other."

"It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that promotes communication with symbols among dolphins."

The design of the keyboard looks a little like a game controller. So, perhaps in time someone could train a dolphin to use a playstation.

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