[In this interview from the Columbia University Climate School, educator and StudioTEKA design firm principal Vanessa Keith describes her vision for the use of virtual reality and presence to help bring awareness and innovative solutions to the serious challenges of climate change. See the original story for two more pictures. –Matthew]

[Image: An image of an NYC alley at night from the virtual reality world “2100.” Credit: StudioTEKA]

Can Virtual Reality Save the Planet?

By Kristen French
August 18, 2021

On Aug. 9, the U.N. released a dire climate report, the first since 2018, that warned of accelerated warming of the planet and splashed code red alert headlines across the world. To bring the Earth back from the brink will demand powerful collective action, the authors of the report wrote. But while the urgency of the message is growing in the public sphere, scientists, journalists, artists and creators have still so far struggled to communicate it effectively to large numbers of global citizens.… read more. “Can virtual reality (and presence) save the planet?”

[This Reuters story describes a new effort to reduce concussions from playing soccer by training in virtual reality. See the original story for a 2:03 minute video and four more images, and for a first-person review of the previous version of the VR software see Engadget. –Matthew]

[Image: Journalist Pete Hall checks the virtual reality headset “Player 22” by Rezzil, used by pro footballers to combat the risks of concussion from heading, in Manchester, Britain, August 24, 2021. Credit: Reuters/Peter Powell]

How virtual reality could help reduce brain injuries

By Peter Hall
September 1, 2021

MANCHESTER, England, Aug 27 (Reuters) – Heading is an integral part of soccer, but its links to lasting brain injuries are proving hard to ignore.

However, one software company feels it has a solution to the damaging impact it can have – virtual reality.

Two more former players announced their dementia diagnosis this week, while five of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team – Ray Wilson, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Bobby Charlton and Jack Charlton – have all suffered with the degenerative disease.… read more. “How virtual reality (and presence) could help reduce soccer brain injuries”

[In the Forbes story below Bernard Marr considers the implications of the recent announcement that the group ABBA is reuniting after 40 years for a new album and a concert series in which the members’ recorded de-aged digital avatars will perform with a live band. For more about the concert see coverage in VRScout and a segment (beginning at 23:15) in the official announcement video on YouTube, and for more about ABBA and the album and concert see The Independent. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: VRScout]

ABBA’s Virtual Concert, The Metaverse And The Future Of Entertainment

By Bernard Marr
September 6, 2021

Even pop legends are not immune to the ongoing digitization of every aspect of life and society. Recently it was announced that Abba fans would get to experience the Swedish supergroup in their prime, as their “Abba-tars” take to the stage in London next year.… read more. “ABBA’s virtual concert, the metaverse and the future of entertainment”

[This Road to VR story describes how physicists and philosophers think we can, and whether we should, gather evidence for the simulation hypothesis. See also a Space.com interview with Rodney Ascher, the director of the new documentary A Glitch in the Matrix that “tackles the theory head-on”; that story includes the film’s trailer (also available via YouTube); here’s an interview excerpt:

“SPACE.COM: How did making this film either confirm your belief in simulation theory or make you question it?

RODNEY ASCHER: Well there are two ways of looking at simulation theory, either as a scientific possibility that changes everything we think we know about the world around us or, secondly, as a metaphor. For the first, I believe I understand the premise after being immersed in the project for two years, but the idea still hasn’t crossed the threshold of ‘extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ as best I can tell.… read more. “Reality might be a simulation, scientists think it’s possible to find out for sure”

[In another story that raises questions about the ethics of presence, this report from SoraNews24 takes a sarcastic approach to describe a new product from Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy intended to evoke medium-as-social-actor presence; the original story includes more pictures and watch the video there or via YouTube to get the full impact. –Matthew]

Electronic grandchild “Ami-chan” developed by Takara Tomy

The future of grandparenting is now!

By Master Blaster
August 21, 2021

It’s time we faced some hard truths, grandchildren are inefficient drains on our time and money. Sure they have their moments and will sometimes produce goods and services such as macaroni art and retrieving small items from under the sofa, but by and large they are a burden to society and, quite frankly, potential vectors for disease.

However, this is the 21st century and technical wonders abound.… read more. “Electronic grandchild “Ami-chan” developed by Takara Tomy”