[Here’s a clever use of VR and presence to replace the boring blackenss of the windows during train trips under the English Channel. The press release is from Eurostar and “brand experience agency” AKQA, and more information including two videos can be found on the Eurostar website. –Matthew] Eurostar unveils world’s first onboard virtual reality experience: ‘Eurostar Odyssey’ Taking travellers on an adventure to the depths of the sea bed, with immersive smartphone headsets available throughout the summer 12 July 2017 Eurostar today announces ‘Eurostar Odyssey’, the first virtual reality experience designed to enhance a journey through an immersive onboard…

[An extremely positive use, and the limitations, of presence are described in this story from CNET, where the original includes a 3:52 minute video and a photo gallery. –Matthew]   [Image: A grandmother in Iztapalapa, Mexico, used a Samsung Gear VR to spend the afternoon with relatives in the US she hasn’t seen in almost two decades. Credit: Family Reunions Project] VR’s new mission: Reunite immigrants with family back home The Family Reunions Project uses 360-degree videos and VR headsets to reunite families separated by borders they cannot cross –except in virtual reality. by Laura Martínez July 27, 2017 Marleny,…

[The “Magic Bench” is another intriguing presence-evoking technology from Disney Research; this story is from New Atlas, where it includes the 3:39 minute video that is also available along with more information via the links at the bottom of the story. –Matthew] Disney’s Magic Bench makes augmented reality a group activity Michael Irving July 26, 2017 Some day, even stopping for a rest on a bench at Disneyland might be an attraction in itself. You could find yourself seated beside a grumpy frog or a snoring elephant, thanks to a mixed reality prototype Disney Research calls the Magic Bench. Designed…

[This widely-cited story from The Daily Mail highlights part of a new Lancet Commission report regarding the use of several technologies, including those designed to evoke different types of presence, for the treatment of dementia patients. For more information see The Lancet as well as a related story, “Assisted living tries virtual reality to help seniors with dementia,” in The Journal Times. –Matthew] [Image: Source: The Daily Mail] Robots could soon care for dementia patients but experts warn it’s ‘not a replacement for human contact’ Tech advancements mean gadgets and apps are already being introduced But there may be some…

[Here’s a short, middle-of-summer presence story from People, where the original includes more images and a 1:05 minute video. See the Madame Tussauds Hollywood website for more. –Matthew] Kylie Jenner Says She ‘Fooled Her Whole Family’ During FaceTime Call with Her $350,000 Wax Figure By Karen Mizoguchi Posted On July 19, 2017 Kylie Jenner put one over on her famous family during a recent prank call with a little help from her newly-created Madame Tussauds wax figure. “I made her FaceTime my whole family … fooled everyone,” the Life of Kylie star, 19, shared on Instagram Tuesday, along with a…

[The use of virtual reality (and presence) recently gave a team of doctors the insights they needed to save the lives of conjoined twins; the story is from The Washington Post, where it includes more images and a 3:12 minute video, and more details are available from the University of Minnesota. –Matthew] How doctors used virtual reality to save the lives of conjoined twin sisters By Peter Holley July 23, 2017 During an 18-year career in medicine, Daniel Saltzman — the chief of pediatric surgery at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital — has grown accustomed to looking at X-rays…