[A new playful large-scale experiment with presence using augmented reality may lead to lots of interesting applications, as suggested near the end of this story from Wired; see the original version for a second image and a 1:17 minute video, and for more information see a June 2020 CNET story. –Matthew]

Snapchat has turned London into an augmented reality experiment

Snap has launched its first persistent, shareable augmented reality experience on London’s Carnaby Street – it’s a proof of concept for a 1:1 digital copy of everything on the planet

By Will Bedingfield
8 October 2020

The dream of graffiti artists everywhere is now a reality – vandals have daubed the whole of Carnaby Street in red and blue paint.

Luckily, this vandalism is easy to clean and totally invisible. Today, Snapchat has launched Local Lenses – a new feature that is one of the first persistent, large scale, collaborative uses of augmented reality.… read more. “Snapchat’s City Painter creates persistent, shareable AR experience on London’s Carnaby Street”

[I’ve been skeptical about the appeal of watching a television (or movie) screen within virtual reality, but this entertaining story from Esquire provides a first-person explanation, including some of the factors that enhance and reduce the appeal of this kind of presence experience. See the original version for two more images.  –Matthew]

The Artful Opulence of Watching Netflix With the Oculus Quest 2 Proves VR Isn’t Just for Gaming

The headset’s virtual reality living room, in which you’ll hunker down to catch up on TV, is nicer than your reality.

By Justin Kirkland
October 7, 2020

I am decidedly not a gamer. Never was in my wheelhouse. I would avoid playing Mario Kart with boys after school, instead talking with their moms about more adult-oriented topics. It wasn’t because I particularly wanted to know about Mrs. Ramsey’s second marriage, I just didn’t want to be embarrassed by the fact that my hand-eye coordination wasn’t up to snuff.… read more. “The artful opulence of watching Netflix with the Oculus Quest 2 proves VR isn’t just for gaming”

[Augmented reality has received less attention than virtual reality in the presence community but this story from CBS News describes a clever application of AR and presence in the context of military training. For some reason the 4:46 minute video report isn’t included in the original story but can be found (at this writing at least) in the version at MSN.com. For much more information, including a long interview with Dan Robinson and several more images and videos, see coverage in The Drive. –Matthew]

[Image: Dan Robinson wearing augmented reality headset. Source: The Drive]

U.S. Air Force pilots could soon be training against virtual enemy aircraft

CBS NEWS
September 30, 2020

A startup led by retired fighter pilot Dan Robinson is developing augmented reality technology to revolutionize the way U.S. Air Force pilots train for combat. Traditional U.S.… read more. “AR and presence: U.S. Air Force pilots could soon be training against virtual enemy aircraft”

[As if today’s shameless denials and distortions of truth and polarizing media ‘bubbles’ weren’t big enough problems, this detailed and example-filled article from Fast Company argues that presence-evoking deepfakes will soon challenge our ability to understand and learn from our own history. See the original story for three videos. –Matthew]

[Image: Credit: bashta/iStock]

Fake video threatens to rewrite history. Here’s how to protect it

AI-generated deepfakes aren’t just a problem for politics and other current affairs. Unless we act now, they could also tamper with our record of the past.

By Benj Edwards
October 3, 2020

Since deepfakes burst onto the scene a few years ago, many have worried that they represent a grave threat to our social fabric. Creators of deepfakes use artificial intelligence-based neural network algorithms to craft increasingly convincing forgeries of video, audio, and photography almost as if by magic.… read more. “Fake video threatens to rewrite history. Here’s how to protect it”

[Artificial intelligence will likely play an increasingly important role in our presence experiences and the new “dynamic film” Agence is an intriguing example of this potential. This story from Upload describes the project; see the original version for two different images and a 7:45 minute “gameplay walkthrough” video (also available via YouTube). –Matthew]

Agence Is A Fascinating VR Deep Dive Into Evolving AI

By Jamie Feltham
September 28, 2020

While speaking to Pietro Gagliano of Transitional Forms and David Oppenheim of the NFB about their new VR film, Agence, Gagliano streams the piece itself. I watch as he toys with the small group of lifeforms named Agents that curiously ramble around a tiny planet.

They’re odd three-legged things that go from goldfishing their way from one side of their tennis ball-sized existence to another to staring at me in bemusement to accidentally – and then angrily – bumping into each other.… read more. “Future presence?: Agence is a fascinating VR deep dive into evolving AI”