[From Neurogadget, where you can watch the 4:56 minute video]

Mind-controlled virtual reality system combines the forces of Emotiv EPOC, Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra

By Neurogadget; November 7, 2013

This awesome VR project combines the forces of three sophisticated gadgets to take mind-controlled virtual reality to the next level. Use your mind to move around with the Emotiv EPOC brain-interface, look around with the Oculus Rift 3D headset, and move your hands to interact with virtual objects holding the Razer Hydra gaming controller.… read more. “Mind-controlled VR system combines Emotiv EPOC, Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra”

[From Motherboard, where the story features a 10:21 minute video; the discussion at the end in particular refers to presence, even though the term itself isn’t used]

How to Use Virtual Reality to Replicate Psychosis

By Alejandro Tauber
November 5, 2013

In 2005, artist Jennifer Kanary’s sister-in-law committed suicide while suffering from a psychotic episode. This event led Kanary to develop Labyrinth Psychotica, an experience designed to give people more insight into how it feels to suffer through psychosis.

Users are strapped into virtual reality gear and transported into the mind of a psychotic girl named Jamie. The whole experience lasts twelve minutes, during which ‘normal’ reality gets increasingly intertwined with Jamie’s psychotic reality, making it more and more difficult to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not.… read more. “‘Labyrinth Psychotica’ uses VR to replicate psychosis”

[From Syracuse University News]

Art Meets Technology in Newhouse M.I.N.D. Lab

Friday, November 1, 2013   By SU News

Art meets technology in pioneering ways in a new facility opening Monday, Nov. 4, in the AXA Equitable Tower, located in downtown Syracuse on the Connective Corridor.

Newhouse M.I.N.D. Lab is debuting its new world-class research and design center, featuring large-format new media technology and visualization space, augmented reality, 3D computer graphics and human computer interaction. SU Arts Engage is opening co-located new community performance space, combining physical expression, such as dance and theater, with the world of 3D projection and virtual reality—melding artistic and scientific visualization.

The new facility launches with an open house, reception and demos on Nov. 4 from 5-7 p.m. in the first floor AXA lobby area. SU faculty, staff, students and alumni are welcome.

Combining these two creative University offices into a single location on the Connective Corridor was coordinated by Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development.… read more. “Art meets technology in new Newhouse M.I.N.D. Lab facility”

[This is terrible news, both personally and professionally. From the Stanford Daily]

[Image: Courtesy of Linda A. Cicero]

Clifford Nass, communication professor, dies at 55

By Ileana Najarro November 4, 2013

Clifford Nass, professor of communication and director of the Communication Between Humans & Interactive Media (CHIMe) Lab, died of a heart attack this weekend at age 55.

James Fishkin, chair of the Communication Department, said Nass was attending the Stanford Faculty and Staff Program of the Stanford Sierra Camp when the fatal heart attack occurred.

Fishkin added that the news came as a shock.

“He was a force of nature,” Fishkin said. “He was young and vibrant and really at the peak of his career.”

Colleagues and students alike will remember Nass for his lasting contributions to his academic field and to campus life.

A leader in his field

In academia, Nass has been well regarded for his research on the socio-psychological aspects of human-computer interaction—namely his revolutionary discovery of how people treat computers as though they were human, as discussed in the co-published book “The Media Equation” with Communication Professor Byron Reeves.… read more. “Clifford Nass, communication professor, dies at 55”

[From Gamasutra, where the post includes a picture]

[Image: Wikipedia]

Do We Need 4K Resolution For Immersive Virtual Reality?

by Ivan Blaustein on 10/29/13

The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community.
The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.

Oculus HD and Beyond

Shortly after shipping 10,000 developer kits, the folks at Oculus announced that they had made an HD Prototype of the Rift that has a 5? screen and a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Oculus set up a booth at the IndieCade conference this month to let patrons try out the HD model on the winners of the VR Jam. This was my first opportunity to test out the prototype and in both of my experiences with it (playing Virtual Internet Hacker and Dumpy), I did not notice the decreased screen size (from 7 to 5in), but definitely noticed the increased number of pixels.… read more. “Do we need 4K resolution for immersive VR?”