Peter Gabriel, who has previously worked with monkeys, may have just revealed that he is cooking up a plan to teach monkeys how to use the online chat interface, Skype.
According to The Sunday Times, the former Genesis frontman has revealed plans to participate in an experiment conceptualized by Monkey World, along with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Since the plans are still in their early stages, it is not yet known what role Gabriel will play aside from definitely being involved.
"The idea is to extend a big video network that already exists in labs at [MIT] so that different species including our own have a chance to communicate," he said. "I am absolutely certain the monkeys will use the video cameras in Monkey World to communicate with each other. I am also interested in how they would use the internet to communicate."
Gabriel, who helped to teach monkeys how to play the keyboard back in 2001, is convinced that humans and animals are able to communicate as long as we can find the proper "medium."
The experiment, which may or may not have any success, has already been minimized by Dr. Bridget Waller from the University of Portsmouth. "I think we're already pretty good at communicating with primates when they're in captivity," she told The Guardian. "Whether videoconferencing will help that, I'm not entirely sure. Primates are complex creatures and they need to be stimulated when we keep them in captivity."
Ever since Gabriel's former Genesis bandmate Phil Collins recently emerged from a major surgery with plans of a future in the music business, speculation regarding a Genesis reunion has been running wild. Gabriel's viewpoint on the reunion, although he says there's only a slight chance, is "never say never."
Listen to Gabriel's very fitting 1982 hit "Shock The Monkey," below.
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