[This story from USA Today makes clear that the latest version of a hologram concert is much more elaborate and compelling than a stage with a translucent projected image and soundtrack of a musical artist who has died. See the original story for a 30 second video and a large photo gallery. For more information see the BASE Hologram website and for information and tickets see the WhitneyHouston.com website. –Matthew]

Whitney Houston died 10 years ago, but her legacy and voice live on in Vegas hologram show

By Melissa Ruggieri
February 11, 2022

“Good evening, everyone, and welcome. There’s going to be a lot of love coming off the stage tonight.”

Hearing those innocuous words uttered by a performer wouldn’t usually spark a reaction beyond apathy – yes, great, we know. On with the show.

But when it’s the voice of Whitney Houston emanating from an eerily accurate holographic representation, the response is a head snap to attention.… read more. “Whitney Houston died 10 years ago, but her legacy and voice live on in Vegas hologram show”

[To raise awareness about the climate crisis, Greenpeace installed a large ‘Ice Portal’ in London’s Trafalgar Square, “bringing the remote and fragile Antarctic straight into the heart of a bustling city over 8,000 miles away.” Press coverage of the effort drew on this press release; follow the link under “NOTES” for a three-minute video and a large photo gallery. –Matthew]

“It’s like looking through a window” – Giant portal to the Antarctic appears in London

Greenpeace International
24 January 2022

London, UK – In a world-first, a towering portal has appeared in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square bringing the Antarctic to the heart of a major city in real time. The huge structure (4m tall and weighing almost 4 tonnes) is broadcasting live from remote penguin colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula, where a Greenpeace International expedition last week discovered a new penguin colony, offering people the unique opportunity to see face-to-face the beauty and wonder of this fragile region.… read more. “Greenpeace uses giant real-time portal to bring the Antarctic and penguins’ plight to heart of London”

[Despite its current limitation, technology expert Charlie Fink is very impressed with the recently introduced Cisco Webex augmented reality holograms, as he reports in this story from Forbes. See the original version for two videos and two different images, and a related Forbes story about how McLaren Racing is using the technology “for a competitive edge in car design.” Fast Company’s first-person story about Cisco’s announcement of the technology last October clearly identifies the company’s goal: “Microsoft developed the ability to render a company’s product within the HoloLens; Cisco aims to add to the experience by making the people seem real.” Cisco’s press release adds this:

“’Our mission at Cisco is to empower the 3 billion digital workers on the planet to participate equally from anywhere in the world,’ said Jeetu Patel, executive vice president and general manager, Cisco Security and Collaboration.… read more. “Cisco AR holograms, the call of the future”

[Presence experiences need not match our experiences in the ‘real’ world (i.e., the mediated stimuli need not be perceptually or socially realistic), as demonstrated by the walk-through kaleidoscope described in this story from New Atlas. See the original version for a second image and a 1:27 minute video. DesignTAXI’s coverage (drawing on a press release) adds this:

“The result appeared way more expansive than the space allowed, presenting solutions that can be replicated in areas beyond the realms of art. ‘Our kaleidoscope is meant to represent how a simple and considered design, when supported with a material that can scale as intended, can return an experience that is far larger than what was built and what is anticipated,’ said STUFISH partner MAciej Woroniecki. ‘We feel this is the epitome of efficiency and sustainability in architecture.’”

Architect’s story adds that “The firm’s entry is one of a spate of similar designs that have graced our pages in recent years“ and “There were no plans for the future of the installation shared at press time.”… read more. “World’s biggest walk-through kaleidoscope delivers psychedelic visuals”

[This Ars Technica report describes a new feature in Meta’s virtual worlds designed to maintain personal space among user avatars and prevent the longstanding problems of harassment and assaults in virtual settings. The story, which includes a second image and a 6:37 minute video, provides important context but only briefly mentions a specific recent groping incident experienced by Meta beta tester Nina Jane Patel, Co-founder and VP of Metaverse Research – Kabuni; she wrote a thoughtful Medium post about her experience and its relevance to bigger issues including the role of presence. See also coverage from CNBC TV18. –Matthew]

Meta establishes four-foot “personal boundary” to deter VR groping [Updated]

Invisible cylinder will keep Horizon avatars apart by default.

By Kyle Orland
February 7, 2022

In the real world, the idea of personal space is ingrained from a young age and enforced mainly by unspoken interpersonal contract and subtle social pressure.… read more. “Meta establishes four-foot “personal boundary” to deter VR groping”