[Here’s a long but breezy and interesting update from The New York Times on what it’s like to date (and more) in presence-evoking virtual reality. Visit the original version to listen to the story, see a second image and follow links to more about the metaverse. –Matthew]

‘Phantom Touch’ and the (Real) Pleasures of Virtual Dating

Just a girl looking for love in the metaverse.

By Madeleine Aggeler
Published August 18, 2022; Updated August 24, 2022

On our first date, CC and I met on a floating platform suspended in the middle of a distant galaxy. As with much space travel, we experienced a few technical difficulties. CC — as they’ve asked to be called — was supposed to be a rabbit, but they looked to me like a small animated girl in a hoodie with large cat ears and a tail.… read more. “‘Phantom Touch’ and the (Real) Pleasures of Virtual Dating”

[This link-filled report from the World Economic Forum describes the increasing use of presence-evoking VR and AR for shopping.  See the original story for two more images and three videos. –Matthew]

[Image: Hugo Boss customers can try on clothes using an avatar based on their own measurements. Credit: Hugo Boss]

How many consumers are shopping in virtual reality and what can it offer them?

By Simon Read, Senior Writer, Formative Content
August 23, 2022

More of us are turning to virtual reality (VR) to do our shopping – and it is a switch that could signal big changes in the retail sector. The “surprising reach” of VR is revealed in a survey from professional services giant PwC.

Around a third of us have used a VR channel in the last six months, according to PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey.… read more. “Presence and retail: More people are using VR and AR for shopping”

[This press release from Airbus describes the five winning submissions by companies and individuals of the HeroX/Airbus Metaverse and the Future of Flight Challenge to envision “immersive, experiential ways in which a passenger can interact with the metaverse during the travel process” (quote from an April 2022 press release via PR Newswire). A search failed to reveal additional information about most winners but for more on Imirsifi’s entry see that company’s website. –Matthew]

Exploring virtual reality’s future in air travel

September 13, 2022

Imagine a future airline in-flight experience where travellers can enter a virtual environment via the Metaverse without leaving their seats…visiting a relaxing town square with the soothing sounds of fountains and birds, exploring a nature trail, or even meeting the avatar of a fellow passenger on a park bench.

These were among the ideas submitted by participants in the 2022 HeroX/Airbus Metaverse Challenge, which attracted more than 60 submissions from individuals, teams and companies.… read more. “HeroX/Airbus Challenge winners explore presence in future air travel”

[A new tennis simulator for virtual reality, with haptic feedback and both physical and mental training routines, will be available to the public starting in October; this story from Forbes (where the original includes two more pictures and three videos) provides the details. Key quote from Martina Navratilova: “The ball is coming at you a 100 miles per hour, you better be ready… It’s not the real deal, but it’s as close as you can get. All things being equal, of course you want to be on the court, but this is the best substitute.” –Matthew]

Martina Navratilova-Backed Virtual Reality Platform May Be A Game-Changer For Cognitive Training In Tennis

By Matt Rybaltowski
September 9, 2022

Reputed as the greatest serve-and-volleyer in Women’s tennis history, Martina Navratilova attacked the net with a lethal combination of speed, aggressiveness, and dexterity that may never be replicated.… read more. “Martina Navratilova-backed VR platform may be a game-changer for cognitive training in tennis”

[Ars Technica has two stories about fast-evolving AI-based technologies that enable image and voice manipulation. The story below is about the latter – follow the links for the mentioned demonstrations and to create your own. The longer one is “With Stable Diffusion, You May Never Believe What You See Online Again. AI Image Synthesis Goes Open Source, with Big Implications” and includes these observations:

“Stable Diffusion and other models are already starting to take on dynamic video generation and manipulation, so expect photorealistic video generation via text prompts before too long. From there, it’s logical to extend these capabilities to audio and music, real-time video games, and 3D VR experiences. Soon, advanced AI may do most of the creative heavy lifting with just a few suggestions. Imagine unlimited entertainment generated in real-time, on demand. ‘I expect it to be fully multi-modal,’ said [creator Emad] Mostaque, ‘so you can create anything you can imagine, like the Star Trek holodeck experience.’… read more. “With Koe Recast, you can change your voice as easily as your clothing”