[Here’s a great example of how telepresence can make it possible for people to participate in activities they’d otherwise be excluded from. See the original story from Digital Trends for two videos. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: The Spoon] 

The robot waiters in this Japanese cafe are controlled by people with paralysis

Luke Dormehl
December 4, 2018

Whether it’s autonomous delivery bots dropping off pizza, robo-bartenders, or automated waiters, it’s clear that robots have a growing place in the food industry. But a new Japanese pop-up cafe located in Tokyo offers a far more uncommon — and potentially transformative — spin on this premise. Called Dawn ver.β, the temporary eatery is staffed by robot waiters operated remotely by paralyzed individuals, who can control the robots from their own homes. The cafe is based on the 2008 anime Time of Eve, set in a future in which androids are commonplace.… read more. “The robot waiters in this Japanese cafe are controlled by people with paralysis”

[This story from The Daily Dot describes MassVR’s new presence-based gaming environment, designed to offer more settings and social interaction than competing models. See the original story for more pictures. –Matthew]

The future of VR gaming is in arenas

Nick Moutvic
December 3, 2018

“Go ahead,” a voice probes me. “Take the leap.”

I look down. I’m 20, maybe 30 feet up, defending my fortress from invaders. Looking across the courtyard, then down at the precipitous drop below me, I know that if I step off the edge, I won’t really fall. But the digital world I’m inhabiting looks real enough to make me hesitant to move forward.

I finally lift one foot off the edge of the platform I’m protecting, and in an instant, I’m airborne.

To an observer, it may just look like I’m walking, albeit a bit awkwardly, but from my perspective, I’m falling through the air, as gunfire erupts around me.… read more. “The future of VR gaming is in arenas”

[This story from CleanTechnica describes the use of virtual reality and the presence it evokes to teach people about the threats of climate change to ocean life. The original version includes the 2:57 minute video (also available via YouTube). –Matthew]

[Image: Credit: Credit: Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab]

Virtual Reality Helps Students Understand The Reality Of Ocean Acidification

December 4th, 2018
By Steve Hanley

Virtual reality can be so much more than another device that lets young males carve each other up in interesting new ways in combat-themed video games. Researchers at Stanford and the University of Oregon have created a VR presentation they call the Stanford Ocean Acidification Experience and presented it to nearly 300 high school and college students. Participants see themselves as part of a living coral reef and watch as it deteriorates to become a lifeless ecosystem infested with weeds.… read more. “VR and presence help students understand effects of climate change on ocean life”

[Stories about holiday displays realistic enough to “fool” people, i.e., create a presence illusion, are most common around Halloween, but this one is related to Christmas – actually a Christmas-themed film. See the original version of the story in USA Today, which includes three videos, and CNN’s coverage, which features the two images here. By the way, this has happened before: See a KDVR story from Boulder, Colorado from last year. –Matthew]

Texas family freaks out passerby with dangling Clark Griswold Christmas display

Kris Betts, KVUE-TV/TEGNA
December 3, 2018

AUSTIN – All a Northwest Austin homeowner wanted was to win their annual neighborhood contest.

Instead, they nearly gave a passerby a heart attack!

Earlier this week, the Heerlein family put up a display paying homage to the scene from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” where Clark Griswold hangs from the roof of his house while trying to put up Christmas lights.… read more. “Holiday presence: Texas family freaks out passerby with dangling Clark Griswold Christmas display”

[Aside from the extremely positive characterizations, this review of a new VR attraction is notable for its description of presence experiences (without using the term; see the paragraph that begins “Which brings up a major point…”) and predictions about the future of interactive, presence-evoking storytelling (see the second-to-last paragraph). The original version on the Forbes website includes the 1:17 minute trailer and for more on the attraction see The VOID website. For even more information see other (positive) reviews in The Verge and io9 and a roundtable discussion with the creators in Laughing Place. –Matthew]

[Image: Promotional image for “Ralph Breaks VR.” Credit: ILMXLAB]

‘Ralph Breaks VR’ Is Brilliant, Game-Changing Virtual Reality Experience

Mark Hughes, Contributor – I write about films, especially superhero films, & Hollywood.
November 30, 2018

We are on the cusp of monumental changes to the way we think about and experience entertainment, as augmented reality and virtual reality continue to evolve and bring new opportunities for experiencing storytelling and gaming.… read more. “‘Ralph Breaks VR’ is brilliant, game-changing virtual reality experience”