[Although he’s obviously not an objective observer, the author of this opinion column in Newsweek makes a compelling argument for taking steps now to avoid the damaging effects of a new digital divide based on presence-evoking virtual reality technology. –Matthew]

[Image: Credit: Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images]

Opinion

If We Want Children to Thrive in the Future, It’s Time to Bring VR to Schools

By Andrew Hawken, cofounder and CEO of Mesmerise
June 29, 2022

Every technological revolution presents a dilemma: How far can we leap ahead without leaving anyone behind? Today, 15 years after the advent of smartphones and 25 years after the internet became part of the fabric of our lives, this is an open and pressing question.

That’s because the world is on the cusp of the next great technological shift. We are taking our first steps into the metaverse, an industry that’s predicted to be worth trillions of dollars in the coming years and bring tremendous potential to transform the ways many of us work, learn, and interact.… read more. “If we want children to thrive in the future, it’s time to bring VR to schools”

[This story from VRScout reminded me of the “infinite regression” or “simulations within simulations” scenario (see Jones, Lombard, and Jasak, 2011), portrayed in the 1999 film The Thirteenth Floor. To demonstrate how VR can be (and in the future will more easily and commonly be) used to create immersive experiences, developer Quentin Valembois spent 24 hours in virtual reality creating a virtual reality game. See the original story for two more images and watch the 9:31 minute video via YouTube. On a related topic, see the New World Notes blog post, “Why Are We Not Having Conferences About The Metaverse On Actual Metaverse Platforms?” –Matthew]

VR Developer Builds VR Game Inside VR In Just 24 Hours

By Kyle Melnick
June 27, 2022

A VR developer by the name of Quentin Valembois, aka Valem, is quickly becoming known for his experimental projects involving immersive technology.… read more. “VR developer builds VR game inside VR in just 24 hours”

[Geography students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) can learn about earthquakes by experiencing vivid simulations from a variety of perspectives thanks to a combination of virtual reality and vibrating platforms. See the original version of this story for two additional images. For more on this topic see the ISPR Presence News posts “Big Shaker mobile earthquake simulator used to increase awareness and safety” (October 2019) and “An earthquake simulator to treat PTSD in New Zealand” (June 2012). –Matthew]

[Image: The VR tech adds a touch of realism to the learning experience, allowing students to immerse themselves in various scenarios of earth processes that can be difficult to visualise without first-hand experience.]

Feel tremors under your feet or watch an ocean bed split open: VR tech brings geography lessons to life

March 1, 2022

You are standing in an apartment when you hear on the news that an earthquake has struck.… read more. “Feel tremors under your feet or watch an ocean bed split open: VR tech brings geography lessons to life”

[A new, important and all-too-timely benefit of the presence evoked by passive viewing of virtual exercise from the first-person perspective has been found in a study from Tohoku University. For more details see the published study. –Matthew]

[Image: Figure 2 from the new study: Participants and the virtual bodies in the virtual scenario: (A,D) male and female participants sitting, wearing the visor and looking in the direction that was coherent with their group assignment in order to see the avatar (the male is looking down, towards himself; the female is looking to her left side), respectively; (B) (static phase) and (C) (dynamic phase) the male virtual body displayed from 1PP; (E) (static phase) and (F) (dynamic phase) the female virtual body displayed from 3PP.]

Training Virtually Can Reduce Psychosocial Stress and Anxiety

June 17, 2022

Previous research has described how virtual training produces acute cognitive and neural benefits.… read more. “Passive training virtually can reduce psychosocial stress and anxiety”

[A new technology demonstrated by University College London researchers offers the possibility of “fully immersive real-world simulations without the need for clunky headsets or goggles.” The details and links to more information are in this UCL news release and watch a 2:42 video about the new tech on YouTube. –Matthew]

Levitating objects with sound could revolutionise virtual reality and 3D printing

21 June 2022

Using sound to levitate something when there are other objects in the way has been shown for the first time by UCL researchers and could lead to advances in the manufacturing and entertainment sectors. The findings open up possibilities for more advanced interactive entertainment through virtual reality and mixed reality at theme parks, arcades and museums. Technology using 3D levitation could lead the way to fully immersive real-world simulations without the need for clunky headsets or goggles.… read more. “New acoustic levitation tech blurs boundary between physical and digital, could revolutionize immersive entertainment”