[In this Forbes story “a CEO of SalesChoice, a high tech AI software company passionate about ethical AI practices” raises many of the fascinating issues and questions suggested by technologies that create the experience of seeing, hearing and interacting with loved ones and others after they have died. The story covers lots of ground using examples and a personal writing style; visit the original version for the odd but interesting and relevant experience of listening to an AI voice ‘read’ it; for more on this topic see the article “Telepresence after Death” in Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments. –Matthew]

[Image: Digital Resurrection requires ethical boundaries. Credit: GETTY]

What Are The Ethical Boundaries Of Digital Life Forever?

Cindy Gordon, Contributor
CEO, Innovation Leader Passionate about Modernizing via AI

September 26, 2021

Today artificial intelligence (AI) driven digital technologies are giving us new pathways to always have your loved ones with you, 7×24.… read more. “Presence after death: What are the ethical boundaries of digital life forever?”

[Defense News reports on the US Army’s development of, and plans for, an ambitious presence-evoking training system; see the original story for a second image. See also a 2018 ISPR Presence News post. –Matthew]

[Image: Soldiers use the Integrated Visual Augmentation System to train with the Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer. Credit: U.S. Army]

US Army makes headway on Synthetic Training Environment

By Adam Stone
September 30

ARLINGTON, Va. — The first iteration of the Army’s virtual training environment is in the hands of some troops, giving an early glimpse of the tool’s promise to reshape the way soldiers prepare for combat.

The Synthetic Training Environment brings together live and virtual training environments, aiming to deliver accessible exercises that mimic the full complexity of the physical world.

“Training is the one asymmetric advantage that we have over our adversaries,” said Brig.… read more. “US Army makes headway on Synthetic Training Environment”

[A new study conducted at and described in this story from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne reveals differences in how adults and children are able to interact with virtual reality, and nonmediated, experiences. See the original for a large photo gallery and a 2:46 minute video (also available on YouTube) and find more details in the Scientific Reports article. –Matthew]

[Image: Credit: EPFL / Alain Herzog]

Virtual reality affects children differently than adults

Immersive virtual reality disrupts the child’s default coordination strategy, EPFL scientists show, something that should be taken into account when developing virtual reality rehabilitation protocols for children.

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
September 30, 2021

While very little is known on the effects of immersive VR on adults, there is next to no knowledge on the impact of such systems on the sensorimotor abilities of young children.… read more. “Study: Virtual reality affects children differently than adults”

[This New York Times story describes the long history of one man’s use of virtual reality, including some intriguing examples of presence experiences and their effects; see the original version for two more images and a short video. –Matthew]

[Image: Wolf Heffelfinger. Credit: Jessica McGlothlin for The New York Times]

One Man’s Endless Hunt for a Dopamine Rush in Virtual Reality

From Burning Man to spaceships, the technology has carried him through a 10-year fascination that delights, disappoints and continues to improve.

By Cade Metz
September 29, 2021

On a recent Thursday evening at the City Life Community Center in Missoula, Mont., Wolf Heffelfinger played laser tag.

Wearing a pair of heavy goggles, he bobbed across the gymnasium, firing faux laser guns with both hands. It was not all that different from any other game of laser tag — except he was playing in virtual reality.… read more. “One man’s endless hunt for a dopamine rush in virtual reality”

[The DreamCube is a headset-free presence-evoking technology that updates the earlier Cave Automatic Immersive Environment concept and tech. This Fast Company story provides the details; see the original for six more animations and a 44 second video. For more information and images see the Local Project website. –Matthew]

See the DreamCube, the immersive spectacle that’s like walking into a video game

It’s not sci-fi. The brand has already signed deals with the NBA and Manchester United.

October 1, 2021
By Mark Wilson

The room is dark. On its floor sits a solitary soccer ball.

Suddenly, a glowing halo envelopes the ball. No matter where it’s kicked, the halo follows like sorcery. And then the walls light up, becoming giant screens. That’s when I realize this is no ordinary room. It’s a giant video game.

Imagine Guitar Hero . . . but instead of riffing chords, you kick the soccer ball—and you can kick it as hard as you like, right into the wall of pixels.… read more. “See the DreamCube, the immersive spectacle that’s like walking into a video game”