ZEST
will allow you to track, improve and analyze how you and/or
the great apes you care for are learning sign language
over time. There are two mechanisms for this: 1) setting
vocabulary learning goals and tracking progress via milestones
(Screenshot 4a), and 2) entering journal notes about sign
language use, and letting the database keep track of the
statistics for subsequent analysis and reports (Screenshot
4b).
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| ZEST
Screenshot 4a: Tracking Sign Learning Milestones:
Target, Introduce,
Use ... |
The
above screenshot shows 7 signs that (hypothetical) baby
gorilla Lala is in the process of learning. These signs
were "Targeted" (by her caregivers) at various
times, introduced soon after, and 5 of the 7 have been
used by Lala to-date. The journal entry in the following
screenshot illustrates how a caregiver will be able to
enter daily notes about Lala's sign use (left) and have
ZEST keep track of the statistics (right). By learning
a simple "sign coding" system, users can optionally
participate in world-wide interspecies communication studies,
or just keep track of the communication skills of their
own local great ape population.
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| ZEST
Screenshot 4b: Entering notes about Lala's
use of sign in the ZEST Journal |
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