[This story from Hyperallergic explores current dating sims, “a sub-genre of video games which center around the user forming and maintaining romantic relationships with digital partners through the use of VR/AR and (for now) rudimentary AI” and considers some of their positive and negative implications. Designers and scholars need to consider the implications since the (presence-evoking) technologies are evolving quickly. Note that the author plans a follow-up report on gender roles and sexual preferences in the sims. The original version of the story below includes four additional images. –Matthew]

[Image: Screenshot of the game VR Kanogo. Credit: The author for Hyperallergic.]

The Gamification of Intimacy Through Dating Sims

Digital technologies for games are developing at an unprecedented pace, compelling us to ask how they are potentially shifting society’s relationship to intimacy and social interaction.

Rohil Aniruth
July 20, 2018

The resurgence of accessible artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies has disrupted how humans interact socially within contemporary developed society.… read more. “The gamification of intimacy through dating sims”

[This first person report and evaluation of a new mixed reality art exhibit in New York City from TechRadar describes both the promise and current limitations of presence-evoking technologies. See the original story for six additional images and a 2:59 minute behind-the-scenes video. For more information see Microsoft’s coverage, the exhibit’s website (which features a nice interactive rippling water illusion), a 2:04 minute video report from CNET, and another first person report from Engadget. –Matthew]

Microsoft HoloLens and Times Square prove an odd mix for an underwater AR exhibit

Tourists’ first introduction to augmented reality may underwhelm

By Michael Hicks
July 13, 2018

I’m standing in line with a gaggle of sweaty journalists in 90ºF heat, waiting for a chance to take a virtual swim through New York City’s Times Square using a Microsoft HoloLens.

Nearby, a sea of tourists flows past, gawking at a 24 x 34 x 60 ft (about 7 x 10 x 18 m), skeleton-like shipwreck as they pass.… read more. “Microsoft HoloLens and Times Square prove an odd mix for an underwater AR exhibit”

[Here’s a new and surprising use of presence-evoking technology for summer fun. The story is from Digital Trends, where it includes a 1:06 minute video. More information from coverage in Gearbrain follows below and see the Ballast website for more on VRSlide and the company’s larger vision for underwater applications of VR and presence. –Matthew]

World’s first VR-augmented waterslide is totally unnecessary, but also amazing

Luke Dormehl
July 18, 2018

Let’s face it: We live in a pretty jaded society. In such a “been there, seen that” environment, the promise of a regular ole’ waterpark wouldn’t be enough to prompt even an eye-roll emoji in response from many people. Thank goodness, then, for an amusement park in Germany whose new, world-first waterslide adds in a dose of scintillating virtual reality in an effort to make us feel something again.

“Ballast originally started by making an experimental headset that can be used underwater,” Stephen Greenwood, the CEO of Ballast VR, the company behind VRSlide, told Digital Trends.… read more. “World’s first VR-augmented waterslide is totally unnecessary, but also amazing”

[When racial bias has been considered in the context of presence it usually has involved virtual environments (e.g., search for the phrase in the archives of ISPR Presence News), but this story from IEEE Spectrum describes a new study that examined this bias in the context of medium-as-social-actor presence, along with the controversy the work has generated. The original version of the story includes a second image. If the link in the story doesn’t work, the study itself is available (at this writing) in a pdf file here. –Matthew]

[Image: Example of image that researchers from the University of Canterbury, in New Zealand, are using to study racial bias towards robots of difference colors. Credit: University of Canterbury.]

Humans Show Racial Bias Towards Robots of Different Colors: Study

Do people display different racial biases towards black robots and white robots?… read more. “Study: Humans show racial bias towards robots of different colors”

[Evermore is a new form of smart experience theme park opening soon in Utah; this abridged story from Blooloop describes the vision for the park that “blurs the line between video games, fantasy, and real life.” See the original version for several more images and two videos and see the Evermore website for more information. –Matthew]

Evermore – how Utah’s new smart park is imagineered for fantasy gaming

Lalla Merlin
12th June 2018

Imagine a theme park without rides or IP, but with live action role playing (LARP), dragons, quests, pirates, and midnight costume parties. This is Evermore, opening in Utah later this year.

Blooloop caught up with Chief Creative Officer of the ground-breaking phenomenon, Josh Shipley, veteran Disney Imagineer. He spoke about his creative evolution and Evermore, a park which blurs the line between video games, fantasy, and real life.… read more. “Evermore – How Utah’s new smart park is imagineered for fantasy gaming”