[An innovative and now award-winning open-access digital publication provides insights into the history of presence-evoking technologies, as reported in this story from The Brown Daily Herald (see the original version for two more images). A Brown University press release includes this:

“’Shadow Plays’ explores popular forms of entertainment in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as stereoscopes and moving panoramas, that were used to transport viewers to a new world. Through six case histories and eight interactive simulations, [Author Massimo] Riva shows how those early innovations foreshadowed present-day virtual, augmented and extended reality experiences.

[Allison] Levy, [director of Brown University Digital Publications] said that Riva’s scholarly project is not only fascinating but also urgently needed. At a time when the gap between simulation and reality is closing, Levy said, ‘Shadow Plays’ can help researchers and the general public alike draw on history to better answer questions about the potential psycho-social effects of augmented and virtual reality.… read more. “Brown U. professor’s digital publication ‘Shadow Plays’ explores analog precursors to virtual reality”

[In this VentureBeat guest column (adapted from an earlier piece in Big Think), a long-time participant in and observer of the evolution of presence-evoking technologies explains why virtual reality is about to revolutionize education. See the original version of the column for three different images, and the Dreamscape Learn website for more information and videos such as “Dreamscape Learn: A new form of education” (also available on YouTube). –Matthew]

Virtual reality is finally ready to revolutionize education

By Louis Rosenberg, an early pioneer of virtual and augmented reality, and the founder of Immersion Corporation, Microscribe 3D, Outland Research and Unanimous AI. He was also a professor of educational technology at California State University.
March 4, 2023

I had an experience 25 years ago that changed my perspective on computing and education. Back then I was running the early virtual reality (VR) company Immersion Corporation.… read more. “Virtual reality is finally ready to revolutionize education”

[This extremely positive review from UploadVR describes what sounds like an impressive and innovative presence-evoking use of eye-tracking combined with a compelling first-person narrative. See the original review for three more pictures and 1:33 minute video, and see a similarly positive review in The Verge (with the title “Before Your Eyes is a beautiful showcase of what VR storytelling can be”) for more pictures and details (including spoilers). –Matthew]

Before Your Eyes VR Review – Sublime Immersive Narrative For PSVR 2

Before Your Eyes is a sublime narrative experience for PlayStation VR2 that leverages eye tracking technology to tell an emotional story about life, death and everything in between. Here’s our full Before Your Eyes PSVR 2 review.

By Harry Baker
March 9, 2023

Before Your Eyes is a truly unique experience. At around 90 minutes long, it’s closer to an immersive movie than a fully-fledged game, but it packs a hell of a lot into a small package.… read more. “Before Your Eyes VR review: A sublime immersive narrative for PSVR 2”

[As with nearly all of the press coverage of a new “hyper-realistic” beauty filter on TikTok, this story from MIT Technology Review provides user and expert reactions, including concerns that the filter is so convincing that it amplifies negative effects on (especially young people’s) self-perceptions and esteem. As user Rosaura Alvrz notes, “This is a problem. You can’t even tell it’s a filter anymore.” For more details see coverage from Insider, a 1:15 minute CNN video, and related stories from Tech Crunch (“TikTok’s Teenage Filter Has Us Confronting Our Own Mortality”) and Design TAXI (“AI Modeling Agency Removes The Need For Humans In Front Of & Behind The Lens”). –Matthew]

Hyper-realistic beauty filters are here to stay

A new filter on TikTok has the internet up in arms. It’s an important debate for anyone who cares about the future of social media.… read more. “Hyper-realistic AR beauty filter Bold Glamour raising concerns”

[How long before it’s common to enter hotels and other businesses and encounter employees who are only present via hologram? A first step is being taken by a hotel chain in Scandinavia, as reported in this story from Skift; see the original version for a one-minute video (also available on Vimeo). –Matthew]

Holograms at the Front Desk Replace Real People at Aiden by Best Western

Justin Dawes, Skift
March 8, 2023

CIC Hospitality is opening 30 boutique Aiden by Best Western hotels in Scandinavia, but they won’t come with staff in the flesh and blood standing at the front desk.

Instead, the front desks will be manned by holograms.

The first hologram system, made by the startup Holoconnects, was installed last month into the new Aiden hotel in Herning, Denmark. BWH Hotel Group owns the Aiden brand, and CIC is the operator.… read more. “Holograms at the front desk replace real people at Aiden by Best Western”