[This story from Amusements & Attractions describes the company Mirra Immersive’s model for large, virtual reality “arena” attractions that feature gameplay and large LED displays that engage spectators. See the original story for three more images, and visit the MirraArena website for much more information. –Matthew] [Image: A MirraArena installed at a Jackie Chan Theater in China] Involving the spectator in virtual reality Mirra Immersive’s room-scale virtual reality is seeing success after expanding into the Chinese market. By Lee WildSeptember 21, 2026 By Sam Wang’s own admission, MirraArena is deliberately different… The large-scale, immersive, premium virtual reality experience is truly…

[This story from MIT News describes a new technology in which optical fibers within a flexible sheet enable precise tracking of changes in the shape of the sheet, which “could be fashioned into a soft and pliable garment that a user could comfortably wear to physically control a video game character or a tele-operated robot.” See the original version of the story for a 2:09 minute video (also available on YouTube). –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Courtesy of the researchers; edited by MIT News] Shape-sensing sheet digitally tracks its movement as it bends and twists Developed by MIT engineers, this flexible material…

[A new multi-method study shows that presence-evoking virtual reality can strengthen the ability of teachers of English as a Foreign Language to “use language appropriately in real-world situations.” As this news release from the journal ECNU Review of Education via EurekAlert! notes, the findings suggest the positive effects were not just the result of using a virtual environment but that “the simulations created opportunities for participants to make communicative choices within sociocultural situations, receive adaptive feedback, and reflect on why particular choices were appropriate in context.” See the original story for a second image and follow the links below to…

[This story from Live Design describes how Americana singer-songwriter Willy Porter recorded his recent album to evoke presence in listeners by capturing all the richness of a live performance, an “immersive recording” technique in which the music is “performed, not manufactured.” (By the way, it’s apparent from the context, but a gobo is a “movable acoustic isolation panel.”) There are lots more details, videos and audio tracks in various formats at the “learn more” link provided in the story. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Hummingbird Media, Inc.] Performed, Not Manufactured: How Willy Porter’s Humans In A Room Presents A New Era of…

[A professor in Japan is developing a compact, rotating chair with imaging optics (and presumably sound) to immerse and evoke presence for users, an interesting alternative to virtual reality headsets, large screens (including those in Cave Automatic Virtual Environments), and glasses. Details are in this story from New Atlas, which draws in part on a press release available from Kyushu University and EurekAlert!. The original version of the New Atlas story includes a 3:18 minute video (which is also on YouTube). –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Shogo Fukushima / Kyushu University] VR chair offers a new way into virtual worlds without a…

[SoraNews24 and Japan Today report that a second location of OrySNACK — a bar where customers are served by and converse with robots teleoperated by workers from home — will join the original location in Tokyo. For more details see coverage in Japan News that includes six images and a 54 second video (also available on YouTube); additional information and reservations are available directly from the OrySNACK website. –Matthew] [Image: An OriHime-D avatar robot toasts with customers at OrySnack in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, on Sept. 9. People who have difficulty working outside the home serve customers by remotely operating the…