[From UCL News] [Image: Virtual reality scene showing the participant’s and the rat’s virtual avatars.] Virtual reality ‘beaming’ technology transforms human-animal interaction 1 November 2012 Using cutting-edge virtual reality technology, researchers have ‘beamed’ a person into a rat facility allowing the rat and human to interact with each other on the same scale. Published today in PLOS ONE, the research enables the rat to interact with a rat-sized robot controlled by a human participant in a different location. At the same time, the human participant (who is in a virtual environment) interacts with a human-sized avatar that is controlled by…

[From The Age] [Image: Surreal experience … researchers are rapidly uncovering the tricks required to fool our brains into semi-believing a virtual world is real.] A glimpse of reality in the unreal world The line between fact and fiction is increasingly being distorted October 25, 2012 Graham Phillips I’ve glimpsed the future – and it’s disturbing. My insight came while giving a lecture to a group of students. I had their full attention for 100 per cent of the time. Indeed these eager young people never broke eye contact with me; they were hanging on my every word. It felt…

[From Iowa State University] SciEthics Interactive project to release free simulation, mid-November October 25, 2012 AMES, Iowa — More than ever before, scientists and engineers are faced with complex moral and ethical dilemmas. Unfortunately, university course offerings centered on ethical issues are not commonplace. To help educators address this curriculum shortcoming, researchers at Iowa State University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania are creating a virtual world where science and engineering students can confront ethical issues in an engaging and safe environment. Join educators from across the country as the first of these National Science Foundation-supported simulations is released to…