[This seems like an important step in VR’s history; the story is from The Boston Globe, and a related take on the New York Times’ rollout is available from Fortune. For more details and instructions see the Times. –Matthew] [Image: Forbes] A dazzling virtual reality rollout from New York Times By Amanda Katz Globe Staff November 10, 2015 On Saturday morning I did something unusual for someone who subscribes to The New York Times online: I texted a couple of print subscribers and begged them to check the bag on their doorstep. I was looking for a print-subscriber freebie, a…

[This new camera and production system offers the promise of what Lytro calls “true live-action presence in VR” (in Mashable); the story below is from Wired, where it includes more images. A 3:43 minute video introducing Lytro’s Immerge is available on Vimeo; and see a story about Uncorporeal’s related technology in ISPR Presence News. –Matthew] Lytro Immerge: Groundbreaking Camera Will Let You Move Around in VR Video Tim Moynihan 11.05.15 Ever since Lytro burst onto the scene with its first light-field camera three years ago, it’s done things very differently. The company’s imaging technology has always been groundbreaking: They make…

[The overall message from this new consumer study is that there’s great interest in trying and purchasing presence-evoking VR technology for a variety of activities (though apparently not communication/social VR); there are also some concerns (see the last paragraph). The story is from Fast Company, where it features more (full-size) infographics. –Matthew] What Americans Really Think About Virtual Reality A new consumer study finds that minorities are more interested in VR, and Oculus is not No. 1. By Daniel Terdiman November 6, 2015 Minorities are more likely than whites to be passionate about virtual reality. And despite the attention paid…

[This is a first person report and thoughtful consideration of the value and likely future of telepresence and telerobotics; it’s from TechCrunch, where the post includes additional images. –Matthew] How Telerobotics Can Reshape Our Workspace Posted Oct 8, 2015 by Peter Hirst, Executive Director of Executive Education at MIT Sloan School of Management At a conference last October, I encountered a fascinating “creature” named AVA that I mentioned in a blog post shortly afterwards. Though extraordinarily helpful in keeping a conversation going with another conference attendee, AVA was not a person. She (or perhaps I should say “it”) was a…

[Envelop VR has an intriguing new approach to working in VR, and the founder talks about it and related issues in the 14:37 podcast episode in this story from Road to VR; among other things, he talks (starting at 10:37) about the distinctions among VR, AR, MR, etc.: “I call them immersive technologies – anything that helps you achieve presence.” –Matthew] Work All Day in Virtual Reality with Envelop VR Voices of VR Podcast – Episode #236 By Kent Bye – Nov 3, 2015 Envelop VR is a productivity tool that provides a virtual shell to allow users to use…

[Facebook is revealing more about its plan to refine “you are there” virtual experiences; the story is from Business Insider. –Matthew] [Image: Crave] How Facebook plans to more or less build a teleporter Jillian D’Onfro Nov. 3, 2015 Facebook’s chief technical officer, Mike Schroepfer, says that when the company thinks about where it wants to be by 2025, it aims to “effectively build a teleporter.” “Facebook wants to build a device that allows you to be anywhere you want, with anyone, regardless of geographic boundaries,” Schroepfer added at a press event on Tuesday morning before his appearance at the Dublin…