IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 4
back story
EditoriAl
Editor in chiEf
Susan hassler, s.hassler@ieee.org
ExEcutivE Editor
Glenn Zorpette, g.zorpette@ieee.org
Editorial dirEctor, diGital
ManaGinG Editor
harry Goldstein, h.goldstein@ieee.org
Elizabeth a. Bretz, e.bretz@ieee.org
Jean Kumagai, j.kumagai@ieee.org; Samuel K.
Moore (news), s.k.moore@ieee.org; tekla S. Perry, t.perry@
ieee.org; Philip E. ross, p.ross@ieee.org; david Schneider,
d.a.schneider@ieee.org
SEnior EditorS
SEnior aSSociatE EditorS Steven cherry (resources),
s.cherry@ieee.org; Erico Guizzo, e.guizzo@ieee.org
ariel Bleicher, a.bleicher@ieee.org; rachel
courtland, r.courtland@ieee.org; Joshua J. romero (online),
j.j.romero@ieee.org; Eliza Strickland, e.strickland@ieee.org
aSSociatE EditorS
aSSiStant Editor
Willie d. Jones, w.jones@ieee.org
SEnior coPy Editor
coPy Editor
Joseph n. levine, j.levine@ieee.org
Michele Kogon, m.kogon@ieee.org
Editorial rESEarchEr
alan Gardner, a.gardner@ieee.org
ExEcutivE ProducEr, SPEctruM radio
Sharon Basco
aSSiStant ProducEr, SPEctruM radio
francesco ferorelli,
f.ferorelli@ieee.org
adMiniStrativE aSSiStantS ramona foster, r.foster@ieee.org;
nancy t. hantman, n.hantman@ieee.org
diGital intErn
H
ow do you get an ape to pee?
It's a challenge that Ken
Schweller never thought he'd
encounter when he embarked on a
career in psychology and computer
science 36 years ago. But Schweller,
who spends part of his time at the
Bonobo Hope Great Ape Trust
Sanctuary in Des Moines, has one
of the more unusual jobs in his field:
He designs computer software to
help the organization's linguistically
adept bonobos communicate.
After a tour as an infantry
sergeant in Vietnam, Schweller
enrolled in graduate school at the
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. There, he became
interested in the use of computers
to study how children acquire
language. The subject continues
to fascinate him in his main job,
as a professor of computer science
and psychology at Buena Vista
University, in Storm Lake, Iowa.
In 2004, shortly after the
sanctuary opened, Schweller
volunteered his services. His first
citiNg ArticlES iN iEEE SpEctrum
IEEE Spectrum publishes two editions. in the international edition, the abbreviation int appears at the foot
of each page. the north american edition is identified with the letters na. Both have the same editorial
content, but because of differences in advertising, page numbers may differ. in citations, you should include
the issue designation. for example, the data is in IEEE Spectrum, vol. 49, no. 7 (int), July 2012, p. 52, or in
IEEE Spectrum, vol. 49, no. 7 (na), July 2012, p. 60.
4
NA * iEEE SpEctrum * July 2012
Mark anderson, John Blau, robert n.
charette, Peter fairley, david Kushner, robert W. lucky,
Paul Mcfedries, Prachi Patel, Seema Singh, richard Stevenson,
William Sweet, lawrence ulrich, Paul Wallich
Art & productioN
SEnior art dirEctor
Mark Montgomery
dEPuty art dirEctor
Brandon Palacio
Photo & MultiMEdia Editor
randi Silberman Klett
dirEctor, PEriodicalS Production SErvicES
Editorial & WEB Production ManaGEr
SEnior ElEctronic layout SPEcialiSt
WEB Production coordinator
Bonnie nani
Jacqueline l. Parker
MultiMEdia Production SPEcialiSt
lEad dEvEloPEr
Peter tuohy
roy carubia
Michael Spector
Kenneth liu
EditoriAl AdviSory BoArd
Susan hassler, Chair; Gerard a. alphonse, Marc t. apter,
francine d. Berman, Jan Brown, raffaello d'andrea, J. roberto B.
de Marca, Kenneth y. Goldberg, Susan hackwood, Bin he, Erik
heijne, charles h. house, christopher J. James, ruby B. lee, John
P. lewis, tak Ming Mak, carmen S. Menoni, david a. Mindell,
c. Mohan, fritz Morgan, andrew M. odlyzko, larry l. Smarr, harry
l. tredennick iii, Sergio verdú, Jeffrey M. voas, William Weihl,
Kazuo yano
EditoriAl corrESpoNdENcE
iEEE Spectrum, 3 Park ave., 17th floor, new york, ny 10016-5997
attn: Editorial dept. tel: +1 212 419 7555 fax: +1 212 419 7570
Bureau: Palo alto, calif.; tekla S. Perry +1 650 328 7570
responsibility for the substance of articles rests upon the
authors, not iEEE or its members. articles published do not
represent official positions of iEEE. letters to the editor may be
excerpted for publication.
AdvErtiSiNg corrESpoNdENcE
iEEE Spectrum, 3 Park ave., 17th floor, new york, ny 10016-5997
attn: advertising dept. +1 212 419 7760
the publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising.
rEpriNt pErmiSSioN
liBrariES: articles
may be photocopied for private use
of patrons. a per-copy fee must be paid to the copyright
clearance center, 29 congress St., Salem, Ma 01970.
for other copying or republication, contact Business Manager,
iEEE Spectrum.
coPyriGhtS and tradEMarKS: iEEE
Spectrum is a registered
trademark owned by the institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers inc. careers, EEs' tools & toys, Ev Watch, Progress,
reflections, Spectral lines, and technically Speaking are
trademarks of iEEE.
spectrum.ieee.org
liz RubeRt-Pugh
The Magic Word
task was to program Pac‑Man-
type mazes for the apes.
Initially, he says, the bonobos
were wary of him: "Bonobos are
matriarchal, so they give women
more deference and respect. Men
are often viewed as threatening."
Eventually, though, they warmed
to him, and Schweller became the
organization's head programmer;
last November he was named
chairman of the board.
Probing the apes' language and
cognitive abilities offers constant
surprises, Schweller says. He
mentions a recent incident in which
a veterinarian needed a urine
sample from a bonobo named Kanzi
and wasn't sure how to go about
getting it. A researcher told the
vet, "Well, you could just ask him."
Then she pointed to the lexigrams-
the abstract symbols that the
bonobos use to communicate-for
please and pee. In short order, Kanzi
walked to a corner of his enclosure,
found a plastic cup, peed into it,
and handed it to the amazed vet.
"I've learned never to underestimate these bonobos," Schweller says.
"I'm sure the vet would agree."
o
celia Gorman
contriButinG EditorS
http://spectrum.ieee.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum July, 2012
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 4
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 5
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 6
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 7
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 8
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 9
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 10
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 11
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 12
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 13
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 14
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 15
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 16
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 17
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 18
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 19
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 20
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 21
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 22
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 23
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 24
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 25
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 26
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 27
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 28
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 29
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 30
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 31
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 32
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 33
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 34
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 35
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 36
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 37
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 38
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 39
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 40
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 41
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 42
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 43
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 44
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 45
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 46
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 47
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 48
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 49
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 50
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 51
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 52
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 53
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 54
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 55
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 56
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 57
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 58
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 59
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 60
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0107
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com