[From the web site of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Texas at Austin] Avatars Can Surreptitiously and Negatively Affect User in Video Games, Virtual Worlds, Research Shows AUSTIN, Texas-Nov. 10, 2009-Although often seen as an inconsequential feature of digital technologies, one’s self-representation, or avatar, in a virtual environment can affect the user’s thoughts, according to research by a University of Texas at Austin communication professor. In the first study to use avatars to prime negative responses in a desktop virtual setting, Jorge Peña, assistant professor in the College of Communication, demonstrated that the subtext of an…

[From The Birmingham (Alabama) News] UAB virtual enterprise turns 3-D simulations into teaching, rehabilitation tools By Anna Velasco — The Birmingham News November 30, 2009, 11:50AM Virtual reality has gotten a lot more real. It has, at least, at the UAB department of mechanical en­gineering, where faculty and students are working on a three-dimensional lab that will allow simulation of everything from surgery to skiing snow­covered slopes. The University of Alabama at Birmingham got the hardware — known as VisCube — for the lab earlier this fall, and engineers are writing software for use in many disciplines, including medicine, dentistry,…

[From the New York Times blog The Moment; a 2:12 minute video is available here] Food July 20, 2009, 2:12 pm Now Online | Air Yakiniku, Food for Thought By ROCKY CASALE When the virtual restaurant Air Yakiniku appeared online last January, it became both an instant success in Japan (where else?) and one of the more curious signs of these globally lean times. The “restaurant,” a Korean barbecue, works like this: once you´re on the site, you´re given an apron to print out and wear to keep “grease” from splattering on your computer. I´m not joking. Then you´re asked…

[From Engadget HD; the web story includes photos and video; a story about last year’s display follows below] Comcast Center HD Video Wall gets a dose of 3D for the holidays by Richard Lawler Nov 26th 2009 @ 3:01PM Probably hoping to avoid our prediction of possibly getting old over time, Comcast is introducing a new wrinkle for the 2009 Holiday spectacular on its $22 million 2,000 sq ft high-definition video wall — 3D. It’s the first time this has played on the wall, with a 19 minute video complete with scenes of rural PA and downtown Philadelphia. Stop by…

[From The MIT Technology Review Editors blog] Monday, November 16, 2009 A Long-Distance Robot Relationship Telepresence robots could soon be available for remote workers. By Kristina Grifantini Last week, as I tapped a laptop keyboard in Massachusetts, a humanoid robot whirled around a lab in California. I tapped more slowly and the robot turned until I saw Trevor Blackwell, CEO and founder of telepresence company Anybots, which manufactures the robot, in the laptop window. “There’s a mirror over there,” Blackwell said, pointing, and I tapped the keys again until I was facing it. I saw a slender, wheeled robot with…

[From the UK’s Independent] Cyberpets: All creatures great and virtual They’re cleaner, tamer and more obedient than real animals – and the newest cyber-pets are more ‘life-like’ than ever, says Toby Green Wednesday, 4 November 2009 They don’t bite, they don’t make a mess on the carpet and they don’t cost anything to feed. The appeal of virtual animals is clear. Both cute and attentive, they treat you as if you are the centre of their world – without any vet’s fees. Video games involving animals are perfect family fun, and come in many forms.  Virtual pets have been particularly…

[From InformationWeek] Second Life Steps Into The Enterprise Companies can now run their own, private version of the virtual world in their data centers, for added security and control. By Mitch Wagner InformationWeek November 4, 2009 10:10 AM Second Life is attracting a cult following among businesses, who say the virtual world gives them richer collaboration than teleconference calls or video conferences. But Second Life still has limitations that pose barriers to enterprise adoption. One of the major limitations is that Linden Lab, which developed and operates Second Life, runs the service on its own server farms. This software-as-a-service model…

[From The Orlando Sentinel via PostStar.com] Birthing mannequins help students prepare By Fernando Quintero The Orlando Sentinel | Posted: Sunday, November 15, 2009 ORLANDO, Fla. — The group of University of Central Florida nursing students stood at a laboring mother’s bedside, their eyes glued to laptop screens that monitored both her and her baby’s heartbeats. “I feel really strange. There’s something pulsating between my legs,” she said, her chest rising and falling. Then, she screamed. “The baby’s coming!” Moments later, a baby boy cried and kicked, his umbilical cord still pulsating. The day’s lesson was on mother and child pre-…

[From The Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal] Columnists Duff: Augmented Reality may be next big thing, but it’s still science fiction Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Friday, November 13, 2009 Story last updated at 11/13/2009 Today’s buzzword is Augmented Reality. The technical definition is, “a display in which simulated imagery, graphics, or symbology is superimposed on a view of the surrounding environment.” In plain English, Augmented Reality allows you to view things in the real world with computer graphics and text added to it. There are already a variety of AR applications in development. iPhone application developers are working on apps that can help you…

[From CNN] Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride Wed October 14, 2009 By John D. Sutter CNN (CNN) — Any kid can dream up a roller coaster. But those who visit a new exhibit at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park can actually take a ride on their fantasy creations. Epcot on Wednesday opened a new attraction called “Sum of All Thrills,” which lets kids use computer tablets to design a virtual roller coaster, bobsled track or plane ride. After inputting their designs, kids climb into a robotic carriage that uses virtual-reality technology to help them experience the ride they’ve created.…