[All things being equal, presence responses are more likely when technology is unobtrusive or hidden; a new transparent TV display accomplishes this and is said to offer an “ultra-immersive viewing experience.” This story is from BGR, where it includes the mentioned videos and two more images. A longer (1:25 minute) HD video from Argus World is available on YouTube. CNET points out that “Comparable technology has been around since at least 2015, when Samsung showed a transparent OLED display panel for commercial use. LG also showed one at CES 2016” and as noted by BGR and in a 2016 ISPR Presence News post, Panasonic demonstrated a prototype (recently updated according to designboom), but this is the first transparent TV available to the consumer. –Matthew]

Xiaomi just showed off a mind-boggling HDTV with a transparent display

By Yoni Heisler
August 11, 2020

While smartphone technology has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few years, the same can’t be said for TVs.… read more. “Xiaomi just showed off a mind-boggling HDTV with a transparent display”

[This story from MacRumors describes intriguing presence-evoking technology in a new patent filing from Apple. As the author notes, “[g]iven the complexity and outlandish nature of this filing, it is very unlikely that any of the features outlined in it will come to market any time soon. Nonetheless, it offers insight into Apple’s current areas of research and development.” The original version of the story includes two different images. For more details see coverage from Patently Apple, and for information about a related patent, see “Apple wants to bring Zoom-like background replacement to ‘Apple Glass’” from Apple Insider. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: Businessblog]

Apple Still Pursuing VR-Based Vehicle Motion Sickness Solution With Contributions From Mark Rober

By Hartley Charlton
August 13, 2020

Back in 2018, it was revealed that noted YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober had been quietly working in Apple’s special projects group on several projects related to virtual reality.… read more. “Apple files patent for VR system for vehicles that prevents motion sickness”

[TechCrunch reports on how teams of volunteers are working to take the Burning Man event online because of the pandemic and in the process, participate in some “avant garde imagineering for what the future of human online interaction looks like.” In addition to the links to the separate projects, the original story includes six more images and links to related content. –Matthew]

Digitizing Burning Man

How indie developers are re-imagining social apps to save the iconic off-the-grid event

Lucas Matney
August 12, 2020

For decades, Burning Man has represented an escape from the current reality. An event for free-er spirits to rethink new age ideals inside a stateless entity where art, music and partying reign supreme on the desert plains.

Over the years, the Bay Area-founded event has dealt with an internal clash as the gathering has grown larger and attracted a heavy presence from Silicon Valley’s wealthy tech class, with tales of turnkey experiences, air-conditioned camps, helicopters and lobster dinners.… read more. “To digitize Burning Man, indie developers reimagine human online interaction”

[This IEEE Spectrum story describes how roboticist John Peter Whitney takes some personal risks to develop technology that permits precise teleoperation (and potentially autonomous operation) of robots. The original version includes two more images and the mentioned video; follow the link at the end for more information. –Matthew]

Remotely Operated Robot Takes Straight Razor to Face of Brave Roboticist

You should really probably definitely not ever try this at home or anywhere else

By Evan Ackerman
July 28, 2020

Roboticists love hard problems. Challenges like the DRC and SubT have helped (and are still helping) to catalyze major advances in robotics, but not all hard problems require a massive amount of DARPA funding—sometimes, a hard problem can just be something very specific that’s really hard for a robot to do, especially relative to the ease with which a moderately trained human might be able to do it.… read more. “Dangerous teleoperation: Robot takes straight razor to face of brave roboticist”

[This review of VR Quest educational software explores the potential of virtual learning experiences, and the spatial and social presence they produce. It comes from Parentology, where the original version includes two more images and a 1:54 “Introduction” video (also available via YouTube). A new 1:57 minute news report from Fox 12 in Oregon, and a 2013 CBS News report include brief interviews with students and the creator, and more information is available on the VR Quest website. For more context, “hear from researchers, educators, and developers from MIT, Stanford, and Seattle Public Schools as they share their experiences, benefits and challenges with VR in the classroom, and talk about their visions for the future” in a 45-minute Oculus-sponsored “Classrooms and Case Studies: VR in Education” panel discussion from October 2019 available via YouTube. –Matthew]

[Image: After creating their own game world, players can enter it through VR.… read more. “VR Quest engages and provides deep learning as kids build and play in immersive worlds”