[A new type of artificial skin reveals damage from injuries like human skin does, as reported in this story from New Atlas. Coverage in Futurism suggests the potential to enhance medium-as-social actor presence in joking that “Terminator-like robots could use [the technology] to blend in among us unsuspecting humans.” –Matthew]

Artificial skin bruises like the real thing

By Nick Lavars
June 21, 2021

Scientists in China have developed a novel material they say could improve the performance of prosthetic devices and robotics, by allowing them to sense injuries just like people. The artificial skin uses a special gel that changes color in response to force, mimicking the bruising process to offer a visual sign that damage has taken place.

Scientists see artificial skins loaded with electronics and different types of sensors as a way of enhancing the performance of robots and prosthetics, by bringing their behavior closer to that of humans.… read more. “Artificial skin bruises like the real thing”

[SyFy Wire reports on a state-of-the-art planetarium in Northern France that seems sure to offer impressive presence experiences. The original story includes two more images and the referenced press release, which describes “An absolute immersive experience” in which “Users & the audience will feel as if they are really travelling through the Universe & stepping into educational shows,” links to a 2:15 minute video (also available via Vimeo) and other resources. –Matthew]

World’s First 10k 3D Planetarium Was Once A WWII German Rocket Bunker

By Jeff Spry
June 18, 2021

Making more illuminating use out of an old Nazi rocket bunker in northern France, RSA Cosmos has repurposed the massive hanger as a new state-of-the art 3D planetarium that promises patrons “unforgettable journeys through the Universe in an ultra-modern 360-degree environment.”

RSA Cosmos has recently equipped the cosmic attraction with a dozen deluxe 4K projectors to manifest what’s being called the world’s first 10K 3D planetarium.… read more. “World’s First 10k 3D Planetarium Was Once A WWII German Rocket Bunker”

[As this story from The National observes, virtual reconstructions of archaeological sites represents a “game-changer that offers an immersive and tangible experience for a subject sometimes viewed as dry when presented through textbooks.” The original story includes two more images and for more information see coverage in Smithsonian Magazine. Inside Indiana Business features a 4:25 minute interview with Bernard Frischer, Professor of Informatics at Indiana University and founder of the company Flyover Zone; the accompanying text includes this:

“[H]is concept is rooted nearly 50 years ago when as a student studying in Rome, he became fascinated with a model-sized layout of Paris in a museum.
‘I thought coming there with a background in photography, in electronics. And with a Ph.D. in classical studies and archaeology, I thought there’s got to be some technical way to get this marvelous monument out of this obscure museum,’ said Frischer.… read more. “Virtual tour takes visitors back in time at Lebanon’s Baalbek Heliopolis”

[In a blog post this week Facebook announced that it’s beginning a test of advertisements in its virtual reality apps; this story from The Verge focuses on some of the key issue the move raises. As with other media experiences, the number, prominence, repetitiveness, quality, relevance, and other aspects of form and content of ads in VR will have important implications for the consumer’s experience of presence (and breaks in presence). –Matthew]

Three big questions about Facebook’s new VR ads

Lots of people saw this coming, but what will it look like?

By Adi Robertson
June 17, 2021

Yesterday, Facebook took a leap many people have been predicting for years: it started putting ads inside virtual reality. The company launched a limited test of advertisements inside three Oculus Quest apps, saying it would expand the system based on user feedback.… read more. “Three big questions about Facebook’s new VR ads”

[Here’s another positive application of presence, the use of virtual reality to train emergency medical services (EMS) providers to diagnose pediatric health crises, which are relatively rare and intense events for EMS first responders. This story from EMSWorld describes the details (and includes a second picture); a related story from the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) reports on a study being conducted on the effectiveness of the VR training and includes a 1:43 minute video (also available on YouTube). –Matthew]

Virtual Reality Helps Fla. EMS Providers Prepare for Peds

By Carol Brzozowski [see bottom of story for information]
June 11, 2021

In an EMS training program that combines his concerns for pediatric EMS delivery and rural EMS education, Felix Marquez, CEO of the Orlando Medical Institute (OMI), has traveled with his team throughout Florida using the latest technology for education delivery: virtual reality (VR).… read more. “VR and presence helping EMS providers prepare for pediatric emergency assessment”