[A chemical engineering professor at the University of Toronto is adapting to pandemic-related restrictions by using “virtual reality (VR), high-resolution virtual tours, at-home experiments, and 3D simulation/design software,” as reported in this story from University of Toronto Engineering News. See the original version for a second image and a video snippet. For more about Professor Chan see “Scaling up safely: Meet Professor Ariel Chan” in the same publication. –Matthew] [Image: Unit Ops Lab site lets students virtually tour and inspect equipment found in the two-storey space.] Virtual reality makes unique chemical engineering lab accessible from home By Liz Do January…

[Adweek provides a short primer on a new non-linear, interactive Wallace & Gromit story users can experience at home via a free augmented reality app. The project was created through a UK government media innovation grant and “aims to push the boundaries of tech-driven storytelling.” See the original story for two videos. Next Reality adds these details: “With the viral launch and sustained success of Pokémon GO, intellectual property holders have been eager to replicate the geocaching formula with their own franchises, with Jurassic Park, Walking Dead, Ghostbusters, and Harry Potter games launching over the past two years, and a…

[A story from the American Alliance of Museums describes efforts not only to create presence experiences but to develop an evaluation tool to measure the impacts of those and other experiences, including whether they actually lead to visitor learning. See the original story for two more images. –Matthew] [Image: The dazzling effects of augmented and virtual reality are obvious, but how can museums know if they actually facilitate learning? Credit: Courtesy of Chicago History Museum] Evaluating the Impact of Augmented and Virtual Reality By Colleen McGaughey & John Russick [see bios at end below] January 15, 2021 “I am perfectly…

[The new version of the expressive and now teleoperated-via-VR robot Reachy caught my attention but this story from CNET about new developments in robotics showcased at the (virtual) 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) highlights other presence-related tech and how innovations are helping us live during the pandemic. The original story includes a 2:35 “Tactile Telerobot Showreel” from Shadow Robotics (also available via YouTube). For more on Reachy, see coverage in Tom’s Hardware and the Pollen Robotics website, both of which include a 1:26 minute video (also on YouTube); the website also features an online simulator. For more examples of presence…

[With all the too-often avoidable turmoil and tragedy of the last many months, I think many of us would benefit from the application of presence described in this story from Tatler Hong Kong. See the original version for three more images, and for more details see the SpaceVR website, particularly the FAQ page. –Matthew] Float Co. Mid-Levels Introduces Asia’s First Virtual Reality Space Experience By Zabrina Lo January 7, 2021 With a VR headset and a sensory deprivation tank, aspiring cosmonauts can experience the thrill of being in orbit without having to leave planet Earth I have alway7s wanted to…

[This PC Magazine story describes what it’s like to set up and use an AI driven digital human that can carry on emotionally engaged conversations with customers and others, the next step in chatbot technology: it includes this quote from an expert: “Digital humans are considerably more valuable than any alternative [since] they aren’t just transactional, they are ‘interactional.’” See the original story for three more images and a video. –Matthew] One Step Closer to SkyNet: Your Next Help Desk Chat Might Be With a Digital Human AI company UneeQ seeks to take the next step in the evolution of…