[This detailed story from VentureBeat describes a new Facebook-led project with the potential to increase a wide variety of presence experiences; see the original story for four more images and a 5:26 minute video (also available via YouTube). –Matthew]

Facebook introduces dataset and benchmarks to make AI more ‘egocentric’

By Kyle Wiggers
October 14, 2021

Facebook today announced Ego4D, a long-term project aimed at solving AI research challenges in “egocentric perception,” or first-person views. The goal is to teach AI systems to comprehend and interact with the world like humans do as opposed to in the third-person, omniscient way that most AI currently does.

It’s Facebook’s assertion that AI that understands the world from first-person could enable previously impossible augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) experiences. But computer vision models, which would form the basis of this AI, have historically learned from millions of photos and videos captured in third-person.… read more. “Facebook introduces dataset and benchmarks to make AI more ‘egocentric’”

[Drawing on a longer July 2021 article in The New York Times, this story from DIYPhotography describes a popular location in rural China that recreates a “bygone gentle village atmosphere” that only some of its visitors realize is staged. The author notes that the main issue is transparency – “If I go to a place and take photographs I want to know that what I’m witnessing is either real or staged” – but that “Perhaps we are all guilty of this to a degree, nothing is as it seems, and we are all perhaps a little too intent on capturing the perfect photograph over keeping it real.” See the original story for more pictures, including embedded Instagram posts. –Matthew]

This Popular Tourist Instagramable Village in China is Entirely Fake

By Alex Baker
October 5, 2021

You’re in an exotic location where time seems to stand still.… read more. “This popular tourist Instagramable village in China is entirely fake”

[This very short DesignTAXI story describes a prototype controller designed to enhance presence (note the last sentence). The original includes more images and a three-minute Microsoft Research video (also available via YouTube) and for more information see the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST) 2021 paper and 7:51 minute video presentation. –Matthew]

Microsoft Showcases VR Controller That Adapts To Let You ‘Touch’ Items In Games

By Ell Ko
13 October 2021

Microsoft Research has just developed an innovative new virtual reality (VR) controller that changes shape according to how it’s being held and used.

Described as a “hand-mounted 360º shape display for grasping in virtual reality,” the ‘X-Rings’ controller consists of four expandable rings stacked atop one another. Each has a collection of sensors capable of simulating grasping objects of various shapes and even feeding back to the system to “deform” objects in the virtual space.… read more. “Microsoft showcases VR controller that adapts to let you ‘touch’ items in games”

[We’ve posted many stories over the years about attempts to add the sense of smell to mediated experiences and enhance presence. Although lacking some important details about how the technology works, Hypnos Virtual describes an ambitious and intriguing “scentscape” (similar to a soundscape) that would accompany a variety of mediated and nonmediated experiences. The description here is from CE Pro magazine and for more information including images, videos and charts, see a press release via PR Newswire, the company’s website (particularly the “learn more” page) and its Wefunder investment offering. –Matthew]

Hypnos Virtual Looks to Infuse VR Experience with Personalized Aromas for Gaming and More

Tech start up Hypnos Virtual is looking to expand the way gamers and wellness technology enthusiast experience virtual reality by adding a customizable “scent tracks” into games, movies, and TV.

By Andrew Nichols
October 12, 2021

Gamers and wellness enthusiasts who are looking to take their passions to the next level might want to keep an eye on Hypnos Virtual’s scent-based virtual reality (VR) experience Scentscape.… read more. “Startup Hypnos Virtual looks to infuse VR experience with personalized aromas for gaming and more”

[Even without the introduction, this story from Slate is a long read, but it’s on the timely and under-reported topic of presence and children and includes extensive links to other stories and resources as well as interesting anecdotes and insightful quotes from experts. See the original story for the unabridged version. –Matthew]

If Social Media Can Be Unsafe for Kids, What Happens in VR?

Mark Zuckerberg recently predicted that Facebook will be a “metaverse company” in five years. What does that mean for kids?

By Catherine Buni
October 11, 2021

[snip]

While it’s unclear whether Zuckerberg’s five-year metaverse prediction will come true—or even whether Facebook might now be looking at a more existential threat—researchers I spoke with say now is a pivotal time for VR, especially when it comes to children. At the moment, most companies, including Facebook, still recommend (not require) that children under 13 not use their VR products.… read more. “If social media can be unsafe for kids, what happens in VR?”