International Society
for Presence Research

Author: Matthew Lombard

  • The world’s biggest social virtual reality gathering is happening right now

    Published:

    [This story from Singularity Hub describes Virtual Market 4, underway in VRChat until May 10, 2020 and expected to be “the largest social VR gathering ever.” While current technology limits the presence experience it provides, it may represent an important step toward the Metaverse of science fiction. See the original story for three more pictures. –Matthew] The World’s Biggest Social Virtual Reality Gathering Is Happening Right Now By Aaron Frank April 30, 2020 It’s one of the most under-appreciated science fiction films of the past decade, but Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (also the most…

    Read more: The world’s biggest social virtual reality gathering is happening right now

  • Call: 2020 XR Access Symposium

    Published:

    Call for Participation Announcing the 2020 XR Access Symposium July 20-21, 2020 | Virtual Event Cornell Tech and the XR Access Initiative are pleased to announce the 2020 XR Access Symposium! This will be held virtually on July 20 and 21, 2020. If you’re interested in virtual or augmented reality or accessibility, keep reading! At the first Symposium, organized by Cornell Tech and Verizon Media in Summer 2019, over 120 researchers, technologists, advocates, and industry leaders gathered for talks, demos, and working group sessions that generated actionable plans for making XR more accessible. For the past year, that’s been our…

    Read more: Call: 2020 XR Access Symposium

  • Presence and the benefits of exercising in VR

    Published:

    [This story from Wired explores some of the psychological and physical benefits of exercising via virtual reality, many of which are based on the experience of presence. See the original version for a second image. For more on the Supernatural VR fitness platform see coverage in CNET and the Within website. –Matthew] Naked and Unafraid to Exercise in Virtual Reality Get over yourself and try VR workouts already. It’s private, liberating, and doesn’t require gym shorts. Jesse Damiani April 30, 2020 I can without bashfulness say that I have logged hundreds of hours on Beat Saber as naked as the…

    Read more: Presence and the benefits of exercising in VR

  • Call: ECCE 2021 – European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics

    Published:

    Call for Papers ECCE 2021 – EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON COGNITIVE ERGONOMICS 32nd annual conference of the European Association of Cognitive Ergonomics (EACE) 6-29 April, 2021 Siena, Italy http://www.congressi.unisi.it/ecce2021 Submission Deadline: 15 June 2020 NOTE: The COVID pandemic has severely impacted the preparation of the ECCE 2020 conference and we have had to postpone the event to 26-29 April, 2021. Please consider the updated dates and deadlines of ECCE 2021. Authors who have already submitted their manuscripts are not required to make a new submission. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ECCE 2021 is delighted to welcome the following keynote speakers: Elisa Giaccardi – Delft…

    Read more: Call: ECCE 2021 – European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics

  • New light and inexpensive device simulates feel of walls, objects in VR

    Published:

    [The quest for a practical way to evoke effective haptic sensations to enhance presence in virtual reality continues; this story from the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University describes a creative new design. See the original story for a 2:04 minute video (also available via YouTube), and for more details follow the link in the story to read the CHI 2020 paper and watch a 12:20 minute video presentation made for that conference on YouTube. For information about other “new sensing and interface technologies that foster powerful and delightful interactions between human and computers” see the website of…

    Read more: New light and inexpensive device simulates feel of walls, objects in VR

  • Call: Urban Assemblage: The City as Architecture, Media, AI and Big Data

    Published:

    Call for Abstracts Urban Assemblage: The City as Architecture, Media, AI and Big Data Organisers: University of Hertfordshire Dates: 28-30 June 2021 Place: London / Virtual / Hatfield, UK https://architecturemps.com/london-hatfield/ Deadline for early abstracts: 30 June 2020 (Abstract Submission Form) NOTE: This conference is planned as a hybrid in-person and virtual event. The keynote will be held in London. In-person presentations will take place in the University of Hertfordshire campus in Hatfield on the outskirts of London. The role of computers in the design, control and making of the public life [and space] is increasingly dominant, their presence pervasive, and…

    Read more: Call: Urban Assemblage: The City as Architecture, Media, AI and Big Data

  • Science says virtual nature can be a good substitute for the great outdoors

    Published:

    [At a time when many of us are stuck inside our homes, this story from The Washington Post cites research to explain how experiences of mediated nature including in video games and virtual reality have many of the same psychological and physiological benefits as nonmediated nature; though not discussed explicitly, the important role of presence is clear. See the original story for two more pictures. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: The Washington Post; iStock] Can virtual nature be a good substitute for the great outdoors? The science says yes. By Lewis Gordon, a video game and culture writer whose work has appeared…

    Read more: Science says virtual nature can be a good substitute for the great outdoors

  • Call: 33rd International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA 2020)

    Published:

    CALL FOR PAPERS Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA 2020) Bournemouth, UK Dates TBD, 2020 http://casa2020.bournemouth.ac.uk/ First submission deadline: May 24, 2020 NOTE: Notice: Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the submission dates have been extended. Please see the Call for Papers and Important Dates for more details. The conference will be postponed in September 2020 and we will fix the conference dates shortly and keep you informed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. The 33rd International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA 2020) will be held in September, 2020 in Bournemouth, UK. The conference is organized by…

    Read more: Call: 33rd International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents (CASA 2020)

  • We need to feel seen by each other. Science shows virtual eye contact works.

    Published:

    [Two recent stories by the same author in Forbes describe the value and limitations of mediated social presence. The story below focuses on a new study of eye gaze in nonmediated and two mediated contexts. The second, “How To Be Social Without People,” focuses on a study of strategies involving nonmediated and mediated experiences that people use to feel “more socially included and connected”; here’s an excerpt: “[T]he authors created a new measure they called the ‘Social Fuel Tank.’ They told study participants that they could fill this tank with different types of ‘fuel.’ These social strategies could mean all…

    Read more: We need to feel seen by each other. Science shows virtual eye contact works.

  • Call: ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction

    Published:

    Call for Papers ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction We are proud to announce the launch of the new and updated ACM THRI website (https://thri.acm.org/). ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (THRI) is the leading peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal of human-robot interaction. THRI continues its cultivation of leading intellectual advancements from its origins as the Journal of Human-Robot Interaction (JHRI). In January 2018, JHRI became an ACM publication and was rebranded as ACM THRI, fostering the widest possible readership of HRI research and information. THRI is committed to excellence, sustainability, and inclusion in its scholarship and review processes. We are currently accepting high-quality…

    Read more: Call: ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction

  • Virtual campouts provide presence and connection

    Published:

    [With a little imagination and selective use of technology, a family can go on a virtual campout even during stay-at-home restrictions, as described in this story from Outside Online. In related news, many Scouting organizations are holding virtual campouts that incorporate a variety of activities that take advantage of presence-evoking technology; for details see an example in the Austin American-Statesman and coverage of more ways Scouts are continuing their activities together while at home in Scouting Magazine. –Matthew] Throw Your Kids a Quarantine Campout Set up a tent, turn off your screens, and enjoy some family bonding—without leaving home Krista…

    Read more: Virtual campouts provide presence and connection

  • Call: Simulation Australasia Unconference 2: Focusing on Solutions

    Published:

    Call for Participants Simulation Australasia Unconference 2: Focusing on Solutions Wednesday 29th April 2020, 8 pm (GMT+10:00) via Zoom Simulation Australasia invites you to join our inaugural “unconference”, a crowd source meeting where we will address common problems and solutions related to COVID19: Unconference is a crowd source meeting to address common problems: Rule #1: Whoever shows up are the right people Rule #2: Whatever happens is fine Rule #3: Whenever it starts is the right time Rule #4: It is over when it’s over We will explore the following themes: Mapping Existing tools and simulations modes to common area…

    Read more: Call: Simulation Australasia Unconference 2: Focusing on Solutions

ISPR Presence News

Subscribe

Search ISPR Presence News:

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

Recent Comments