[Researchers at the University of California, Davis are enhancing social presence, communication and learning in virtual settings by giving AI-based agents the ability to better mimic how humans use gestures. See the original version of this story for three more images. For more context, see a report in The Conversation (coincidentally published on the same day) titled “People who talk with their hands seem more clear and persuasive – new research.” –Matthew] [Image: Ozgur Demir, a Ph.D. student in computer science and researcher in the UC Davis Motion Lab, left, and Professor Michael Neff, simulate interacting in the virtual space,…

[A large Community College District in central California is taking presence experiences on the road, as reported by The Bakersfield Californian; see the original version of this story for three more pictures. For more details see coverage from the District, which includes more pictures and cites an earlier story from Arizona State University, and a press release via PR Newswire. –Matthew] [Image: The Kern Community College District recently purchased a movable trailer with 16 virtual reality stations to help students learn a variety of subjects. The district plans to move the trailer around to its various campuses while also making…

[It’s hard to imagine the immediate and long-term physical and psychological effects of war on the children in Gaza, but one therapy program there is using presence-evoking virtual reality to “transport the youngsters to a world far away from the destruction around them” and “help them rebuild positive perceptions of the world.” Some of the details are in this story from AFP via Barrons; see the original version for four more pictures. A 3:20 minute video report is available from ETV Bharat. –Matthew] [Image: Palestinian children using goggles and a joystick experience virtual reality as part of a therapy programme.…

[Although there isn’t much other information about it online, the “showroom” for presence technologies described in this story from Essential Install sounds like a rewarding destination for a presence field trip. See the original story for a large photo gallery, and the Musion 3D website for contact information. –Matthew] Musion 3D opens world’s largest AI hologram showroom By Daniel J SaitDecember 2, 2025 Musion 3D opens what it describes as the world’s largest hologram showroom in London, unveiling an 11,000 sq ft interactive space designed to demonstrate the latest advances in holographic communication, AI-driven avatars and immersive display systems. The…

[Note the many indirect references to presence in this story from Art Basel about a new museum of “automotive culture” that exists only in virtual form. See the original version of the story for eight more images. For a related story, see the other ISPR Presence News post today, “Metropolitan Museum of Art launches new immersive VR and online feature with iconic works from its collection.” –Matthew] Inside the museum that doesn’t exist A pioneering museum without physical walls, Roarington Art Center reimagines how art can exist, be experienced, and endure in the digital age By Payal UttamNovember 24, 2025…

[The new virtual and online versions of works from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York described in the Met’s press release below is important news on its own, but the potential of the Atopia no-code platform for cultural institutions may be even more significant. See the original version of the press release for a second image. For a related story, see the other ISPR Presence News post today, “Virtual Roarington Art Center reimagines how art can exist, be experienced, and endure in the digital age.” –Matthew] [Image: Still from Dendur Decoded. Credit: Courtesy of The…

[A U.S. professor of game development at Kennesaw State University (in Georgia) is drawing on his own experiences navigating grief after the loss of his young daughter to apply presence-evoking technology to help others in similar situations. This story is from KSU; though it’s behind a paywall, more coverage is available from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Matt Yung] KSU researcher draws on personal experience in creation of VR system designed to address grief By Alyssa OzmentSeptember 24, 2025 Six years ago, Assistant Professor of Game Development Lei Zhang and his wife welcomed their first child into the world.…