[It’s not clear whether dogs wearing augmented reality goggles experience superimposed visual elements as part of their nonmediated reality but the project reported in this story from APG News suggests that both dog and human handler using the technology may experience spatial, and social, presence. The original story includes a second image. See also the August 2020 ISPR Presence News post “US Army robo-teammate can detect, share 3-D changes in real-time using AR.” –Matthew]

Augmented Reality Dog Goggles Could Help Protect Soldiers

By CCDC Army Research Laboratory
October 14, 2020

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Military working dogs often scout areas for explosive devices and hazardous materials and assist in rescue operations, but giving dogs the necessary commands to perform these missions can put Soldiers in harm’s way. Augmented reality may change that.

Through a project funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program and managed by the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S.… read more. “US Army testing augmented reality goggles for dogs”

[Here’s a story from TechCrunch about Amazon’s new use of augmented reality, just in time for Halloween. See the original version for more pictures and a 38 second video (also available on YouTube), and a related ISPR Presence News post about Amazon’s “Distance Assistant” AR that helps warehouse workers stay socially distant. –Matthew]

Amazon launches an AR app that works with new QR codes on its boxes

Sarah Perez
October 12, 2020

Amazon has quietly launched a new augmented reality application that works with QR codes on the company’s shipping boxes to create “interactive, shareable” AR experiences. Called simply “Amazon Augmented Reality,” the retailer describes the app as a “fun way to reuse your Amazon boxes until you’re ready to drop them in the recycling bin.”

As shown in the App Store’s screenshots of the new app, different Amazon boxes will offer unique activities for the AR experience.… read more. “Amazon launches AR app that works with QR codes on its boxes”

[The invention described in this story from the Cornell Chronicle has clear potential to improve social presence during mediated communication, especially with the limitations imposed by the pandemic. For more details and demonstrations, see the 4:22 minute video in the original story (it’s also on YouTube). –Matthew]

[Image: Captured video of a user’s facial expression (left), with a 3D model predicted by C-Face.]

Earphone tracks facial expressions, even with a face mask

By Melanie Lefkowitz
October 12, 2020

Cornell researchers have invented an earphone that can continuously track full facial expressions by observing the contour of the cheeks – and can then translate expressions into emojis or silent speech commands.

With the ear-mounted device, called C-Face, users could express emotions to online collaborators without holding cameras in front of their faces – an especially useful communication tool as much of the world engages in remote work or learning.… read more. “C-Face earphone tracks facial expressions, even with a face mask”

[Researchers at Cambridge University collaborating with a 3D image analysis software company, have created software that lets users explore super-resolution microcopy data in virtual reality. This passage particularly struck me:

“Anoushka Handa – a PhD student from Lee’s group – used the software to image an immune cell taken from her own blood, and then stood inside her own cell in virtual reality. ‘It’s incredible – it gives you an entirely different perspective on your work,’ she said.”

For more information and a 5:07 minute walk-through video (also available via YouTube), see the LUME VR website. –Matthew]

[Image: DBScan analysis being performed on a mature neuron in a typical vLUME workspace. Credit: Alexandre Kitching]

Virtual reality software which allows researchers to ‘walk’ inside and analyse individual cells could be used to understand fundamental problems in biology and develop new treatments for disease.… read more. “VR software allows researchers to ‘walk’ inside and analyze individual cells”

[It’s often enlightening to see how various types of presence phenomena are dramatized in movies and television programs (e.g., the Telepresence in Media Environments project). A new 10-episode Fox TV event series that debuted last week is the latest example. The Chicago Sun-Times review below begins with the familiar example of a child speaking with (a fictional version of) Alexa that takes a creepy turn. For more information about the thinking behind the show see an interview with its creator from CBR.

In an intriguing related development, Fox hired a “tech-focused creative shop” to develop an AI that then created a trailer for the show; here’s an excerpt of coverage in Adweek (registration required), which also includes both the AI-created and a human-created trailer:

“To market its new series about an evil artificial intelligence creation threatening society, Fox commissioned a trailer created by—an actual AI.… read more. “Fox TV’s “neXt” explores AI gone wrong; network hires AI to write, edit and score trailer”