[From Stony Brook University; a 2:12 minute video is available here]

[Image: Image of Dubai, United Arab Emirates viewed in the Reality Deck]

SBU Demonstrates Largest Resolution Immersive Visualization Facility Ever Built

“Reality Deck” designed to assist scientists, engineers and physicians in tackling modern-age problems requiring vast amounts of data

STONY BROOK, NY, November 15, 2012 – Stony Brook University unveiled its latest engineering feat, a 1.5 billion pixel Reality Deck, at a demonstration held at the University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) on November 15. The Reality Deck, a 416 screen super-high resolution virtual reality four-walled surround-view theater, is the largest resolution immersive display ever built driven by a graphic supercomputer. Its purpose and primary design principle is to enable scientists, engineers and physicians to tackle modern-age problems that require the visualization of vast amounts of data.… read more. “Stony Brook University opens largest resolution immersive visualization facility ever built”

[From Uwishunu; some of us walked over to see the Experience Wall during the recent ISPR 2012 conference]

[Image: The Comcast Holiday Spectacular, a unique-to-Philadelphia high-tech holiday show screened on the world’s largest four-mm LED video display, opens for the 2012 season on Thanksgiving Day. (Photo by Joseph Kaczmarek courtesy Comcast Center)]

The Comcast Holiday Spectacular, A Festive Film Experience Screened On The World’s Largest Four-Millimeter LED Screen, Returns For The 2012 Holiday Season On Thanksgiving Day

Posted by Allison Stadd
November 15, 2012

Other cities have ice skating rinks, festooned store windows and soaring Christmas trees.

But Philadelphia has something all its own.

Celebrating its fifth year, the Comcast Holiday Spectacular returns to Philadelphia for the 2012 holiday season starting Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.

Since its debut in 2008, more than a half million people have seen the show.… read more. “Philadelphia’s Comcast Holiday Spectacular returns on world’s largest four mm LED screen”

[A story about presence with animals from NBC News; the article in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface is available here]

[Image: Comparison of the robotic-fish to a zebrafish individual]

With a wag of its tail, robo-fish draws attention of real thing

Convincing droids may one day help lead fish from danger, scientists say

By Charles Choi
11/14/2012

Robotic fish can make real fish like them simply by waving their artificial tails in a special way, researchers say.

These droids could lead real fish away from perils such as underwater turbines, and help scientists learn more about how real animals behave, investigators added.

Roboticists have long turned to nature for inspiration when designing robots. For instance, a robot that copies roaches’ ability to quickly disappear under ledges could lead to droids with animal-like maneuverability, while another robot can alter its colors to hide or stand out in its environment just like an octopus.… read more. “With a wag of its tail, robo-fish draws attention of real thing”

[From The University of Toronto Scarborough]

[Image: A volunteer takes part in a virtual reality test designed to determine if a cognitive impairment will affect a person’s ability to function in the real world. (Credit: Ken Jones/U. Toronto)]

Virtual reality could spot real-world impairments

Sep 25, 2012
Kurt Kleiner

A virtual reality test being developed at UTSC might do a better job than pencil-and-paper tests of predicting whether a cognitive impairment will have real-world consequences.

The test developed by Konstantine Zakzanis, associate professor of psychology, and colleagues, uses a computer-game-like virtual world and asks volunteers to navigate their ways through tasks such as delivering packages or running errands around town.

“If we’re being asked to tell if people could do things like work, houseclean, and take care of their kids, we need to show that our tests predict performance in the real world,” says Zakzanis.… read more. “VR test predicts real-world consequences of cognitive impairments”

[From Bdaily]

[Image: Emma-Jane Alexander, Coordinator at HIVE]

University to develop 3D virtual reality wind turbine

14 Nov 2012
Miranda Dobson

A virtual reality 3D “cave” created by the University of Hull has been commissioned to provide training for wind turbine engineers and green energy industries.

The Higher Education Funding Council has awarded £240,000 to the University to develop the training facility in the Hull Immersive Visual Environment (HIVE), which will be used to simulate the most extreme and hostile conditions that workers in the green power industry face.

Hull’s scheme is part of a multimillion pound investment in the renewables sector, which has been led by the University’s low carbon hub, CASS.

The University has worked on links with the industry to create initiatives like this one, with a view to develop commercial projects and create income by sharing knowledge and expertise.… read more. “University of Hull to develop 3D virtual reality wind turbine”