[From OnlineAthens, where the story includes additional images] [Image: B.J. Whimpey, left, rides a virtual reality bicycle while Ray Smith, one of the two designers, looks on at the Driftmier Engineering Center in Athens, Ga., Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AJ Reynolds/Staff) AJ Reynolds/OnlineAthens & The Athens Banner-Herald] Shooting, biking and space mining at UGA virtual reality showcase By Lee Shearer – Friday, May 3, 2013 The places were virtual, but the fun was real Thursday in a virtual-reality open house on the University of Georgia campus. Visitors could operate a robotic flyer, fire a Glock 9mm pistol complete with recoil,…

[From South Carolina’s The State] [Image: Other students such as Lexie Kinder’s good friend Hazel Kolb, front left, work on their shapes while Alice Drive Elementary third-grade teacher Ivey Smith, back left, talks to Lexie Kinder, a girl who has not been able to attend school in nearly two years, via the VGo robot, a robotic stand-in. Sumter School District is the first school district in the state to pilot VGo, a machine that allows a student to attend school and interact with others through a camera and audio. Jade Anderson — AP/The (Sumter) Item] Sumter girl attends school thanks…

[From Temple University] [Image: Temple researchers are creating a virtual therapist for people with aphasia. Conducting the two-year study are, from left, Justin Shi, associate professor of computer science; Nadine Martin, professor of communication sciences; and Emily Keshner, professor and chair of physical therapy.] Aphasia patients may soon get help using a virtual speech therapist Posted May 1, 2013 — Eryn Jelesiewicz When asked about her stroke, Debi L. Green pulls a worn scrap of paper out of her purse and points to “October 15, 2004.” The paper is a collection of dates, diagnoses and vital facts that helps her…

[From Science Network Western Australia; more information and images are available at the University of Western Australia in Second Life blog] [Image: Left to right: Avatars of Professor Stuart Bunt (UWA), Dr April Richardson-Hatcher (UK), D.Newton (UWA) and Matt Hazzard (UK) meet to launch the collaboration] Virtual reality examined for tertiary science learning A virtual reality teaching program by UWA and collaborators has received an international award for innovative learning using Second Life. Saturday, 20 April 2013 06:00 Now with funding from UWA’s Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, Professor Stuart Bunt from School of Anatomy, Physiology and…