[A first-person report on the latest iteration of Spatial holographic virtual reality experiences has new importance with our unexpected reliance on 2D video meeting systems like Zoom. This story is from VentureBeat and for more details see a second story from the same publication (which explicitly praises the “sense of collective presence” of Spatial VR and provides information on free access) and a 2018 post in ISPR Presence News. –Matthew] Holographic VR meetings just became real, whether you’re ready or not Jeremy Horwitz May 20, 2020 I’m not often at a loss for words, but as I re-entered the real…

[The New York Times has compiled short stories from people who have lost a loved one during the pandemic about their experiences of mourning. Many of the stories highlight the abilities, and limitations, of media technology to overcome physical isolation from other people at an extremely difficult time. Warning: Reading these stories may evoke intense emotions; they did for me. See the original version for two more images, and a related story, “A 24-Hour Virtual Vigil Will Mourn Americans Who Have Died Of Coronavirus,” from Gothamist (that event is scheduled for today, Wednesday May 20, 2020). –Matthew] [Image: A family…

[As the need to stay physically apart during the pandemic continues to motivate more uses of presence-evoking technologies, a Texas courtroom is conducting what is said to be the first jury trial via videoconferencing. The story below from Reuters provides some key details; Law.com reports on what happened during the jury selection process; the NBC station in Dallas-Fort Worth has a 1:56 minute news report; and the ABA Journal considers more of the challenges related to presence, including this: “Video can be distancing and distorting. As courts come to grips with virtual hearings, they will need to consider how framing,…

[The new realistic robot dolphin in this report from Radio New Zealand clearly evokes medium-as-social-actor presence, with volunteers who swim with it believing it’s a real dolphin until being told the truth. The story describes a myriad of practical applications of the technology along with the creators’ plans to develop robots for other marine species. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Katie Todd] Robotic dolphin causing stir in aquariums while solving ethical dilemma 11 May 2020 Katie Todd, Reporter As Chinese zoos and aquariums grapple with new bans on wildlife trade, a New Zealand tech entrepreneur is seeing unexpected interest in her latest…

[This story from the New Statesman about the nature of personal identity and the importance of embodiment considers timeless philosophical issues against the backdrop of the pandemic. While not using the term, it raises thought-provoking questions about mediated (i.e., tele-) presence. For example, as technology improves, to what extent will it be possible and necessary to create actual or simulated embodiment in mediated presence experiences? –Matthew] What the pandemic tells us about personal identity We have become more used to seeing others through screens and software, but we are embodied beings and digital communication can feel lacking. What effect will…

[The New York Public Library is offering a (free) “immersive experience” that recreates the familiar sounds of the city that are temporarily absent because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This story is from the Library‘s website, where you can listen to the eight tracks. –Matthew] Missing Sounds of New York: An Auditory Love Letter to New Yorkers By NYPL Staff May 1, 2020 The New York we know and love is one click away: cabs honking, pigeons cooing, bike messengers whizzing by, strangers gossiping, the hum of a local library. Anywhere you are can now become the city—all you need is…