[This very short story from Blocks and Files describes the latest attempt to translate the 2D interface for computer file storage to a more intuitive (and presence-evoking) 3D system. Follow the links in the story for more information; see many more videos on the company’s Vimeo page; and for even more information visit the Saganworks website. –Matthew] [Image: Screenshot from “Introduction to Saganworks” video. Source: Vimeo] Saganworks creates virtual reality rooms for storing files and folders By Chris Mellor May 12, 2020 Saganworks, a US startup, aims to revitalise file:folder user interfaces with virtual reality rooms that create a memory…

[This story from the Los Angeles Times is an interesting first-person report on the current status of virtual reality and the nature of its value during the pandemic and more generally. It’s just one of several recent, sometimes-contradictory articles about the status and prospects for the technology; for example: Is virtual reality missing its moment? (TechSpot) This should be V.R.’s moment. Why is it still so niche? (The New York Times) Stop saying virtual reality is dying (Forbes) Coronavirus could be catalyst to reinvigorate virtual reality headsets (CNBC) Why virtual reality will be a must-have for our socially distanced future…

[The pandemic has spurred presence-related innovations in many sectors; this story from The Guardian describes a very large interactive live concert event in a realistic digital replica of Helsinki, Finland and includes speculation on the future of virtual travel. Note the concluding comment from an expert: “The role of VR will increase… The tourism industry may need to consider hybrid experiences – a combination of real and virtual – in the future. And, after this forced isolation, people will be more open for virtual experience as an alternative way of socialising and enjoying life. It might be accepted as the…

[This news in this short story from Variety may portend a world where it’ll be little noticed that the ranks of elite, popular, admired and influential cultural personalities include both real and technology-generated people. See the original story for a second image; for more on the human clients CAA represents see Wikipedia, and for more on Miquela see an ISPR Presence News post from December 2019. –Matthew] Miquela, the Uncanny CGI Virtual Influencer, Signs With CAA (EXCLUSIVE) By Todd Spangle May 6, 2020 Here’s some real news about a fake (or, at least, unreal) star: Miquela, the digital avatar and…

[Immersive theater, where the audience can interact with the performers, moved into virtual reality before Coronavirus, but this story from CNET describes how it has expanded and may portend a post-pandemic “virtual world of communication that we’ll all be living in more.” See the original story for three different images, a 3:09 minute video trailer, and a 14 minute audio interview with the author. For more coverage see the author’s November 2019 story on this topic and coverage in Upload VR, Forbes and The Los Angeles Times (requires subscription), and for more details and videos see the Tender Claws website.…

[Airbnb is offering some of its Experiences (“one-of-a-kind activities hosted by experts”) online and writer David Pogue spent a weekend sampling the growing selection of them to see how well they “replicate experiencing another place or culture.” He reports entertainingly on his experiences and conclusions in this story from The New York Times; see the original version for four short videos, and for more see a similar story in The Washington Post. –Matthew] I Spent a Weekend Bingeing Airbnb’s Virtual Experiences. Was it Worth It? While the rest of the country was binge-watching, David Pogue went binge-experiencing, cramming seven virtual…