[The DreamCube is a headset-free presence-evoking technology that updates the earlier Cave Automatic Immersive Environment concept and tech. This Fast Company story provides the details; see the original for six more animations and a 44 second video. For more information and images see the Local Project website. –Matthew] See the DreamCube, the immersive spectacle that’s like walking into a video game It’s not sci-fi. The brand has already signed deals with the NBA and Manchester United. October 1, 2021 By Mark Wilson The room is dark. On its floor sits a solitary soccer ball. Suddenly, a glowing halo envelopes the…

[There’s been a lot of press coverage of Amazon’s new Astro robot this week, with a mix of reactions. This story from CNET provides valuable context regarding Amazon’s approach to developing innovative (and often presence-evoking) technology. For more about Astro see Amazon News and the Amazon Science blog. For a mostly negative view about Astro’s potential see a widely cited story in Vice. Here are excerpts from two other technology writers: “Astro is a magnificent feat of science and engineering. But is it actually something you would want in your home? A successful product is one that either addresses an unsolved…

[As the technologies and techniques that evoke presence become more diverse and overlap in different combinations it’s useful to have a classification scheme. This story from Virtual Humans provides one for the virtual influencer industry; see the original story for seven more images. –Matthew] What’s the Difference Between Virtual Influencers, VTubers, Artificial Intelligence, Avatars, and More? Virtual being classifications are diverse; here are some definitions to help keep things clear. By Makena Rasmussen September 27, 2021 When people imagine a virtual influencer, they often picture something out of a science fiction movie: a fully automated, autonomous robot celebrity powered by…

[From The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman to Star Wars and beyond, science fiction has long portrayed replacement limbs that function and are experienced as being the same (or better than) the original limb. New work described in this Cleveland Clinic press release is actually making this possible, allowing amputees to overlook the role of technology in their interaction with objects and people. See the original report for six more images and a 15 second video. More videos are available via YouTube from the Cleveland Clinic, KPVM-TV in Las Vegas, and the Daily Mail – in the…

[As DesignTAXI reports, Virtual Mate claims to produce compelling, realistic “virtual intimacy” with its combination of story, character, realistic graphics, and verbal and physical interaction; the company’s website includes this indirect reference to a strong presence illusion: “As a California-based team of Unreal Engine developers and smart device engineers, we have dedicated years of time, money, and energy to devising an intimate virtual encounter so immersive and realistic, users are losing sight of what’s real or fictional.” See the rest of the website for more information including (some NSFW) images and videos. The reviews are more cautious: “We like Virtual…

[This Digiday story reviews the recent expansion of virtual concert platforms and the spatial and social presence experiences they provide and how companies are using the platforms for marketing and promotion of the metaverse. For more on the Stageverse social VR platform highlighted here see coverage in Road to VR. –Matthew] Why companies are using virtual concerts to introduce their users to the metaverse By Alexander Lee September 21, 2021 As everyday life increasingly moves into digital spaces, companies are taking advantage of consumers’ enthusiasm for virtual concerts to introduce them to the concept of the metaverse. On September 8,…