[The technologies used to create Halloween attractions are increasingly capable of producing rich and intense presence experiences, as detailed in this story from Fast Company; see the original version for other pictures and videos. –Matthew] Virtual reality reimagines the haunted mansion–with eerily realistic effects The Void’s hyper-reality experiences allow you to do more than just enter a new world–you get to touch, feel, interact, and even smell truly terrifying environments. By Rina Raphael October 1, 2018 I am screaming so loudly–repeatedly–that it’s more of a piercing shrill echo. I fear it’s so disturbingly distracting that I can’t stop apologizing. “I…

[In addition to their features, most of the press coverage of Facebook’s new Portal devices emphasizes questions about the actual and perceived privacy the products will provide. This story is from Business Insider, where it includes other images. A 5:43 minute interview with Portal VP Rafa Camargo at Bloomberg includes the quote here about presence and several others including a specific reference to social and “video” presence. Wired has more details about the Portals including this: “Get up and walk around, and the camera follows you, staying zoomed in. If there’s more than one human in the room, Portal will…

[Researchers affiliated with Penn State University are designing not just individual VR simulations to teach industrial engineering but an integrated, thematic curriculum that incorporates VR and presence to serve both in person and remotely located students with “the potential to transform our concept of higher education and how we learn.” This story is from Penn State News, where it includes more pictures (see also related earlier coverage from Penn State News). –Matthew] [Image: Researchers at the Data-Driven Decisions lab at Penn State Behrend and the Design Analysis Technology Advancement lab at University Park are developing a virtual-reality simulation that will…

[This story from Wired highlights the power of (in this case, medium-as-social-actor) presence, and the tension between profits and ethics: “The danger is that robot makers, consciously or not, may exploit gender stereotypes to try to make their machines more effective [with consumers] … It doesn’t have to be this way.” –Matthew] [Image: Donat Sorokin/TASS/Getty Images] It’s Time To Talk About Robot Gender Stereotypes Matt Simon October 3, 2018 Robots are the most powerful blank slate humans have ever created. Want a helpful robot? No problem. Want a mean one? Sure, if that’s what you’re into. A robot is a…

[This story from Inverse describes a new study that demonstrates the power of VR and presence to alter perceptions and, in this case, enable more effective physical exercise (although as with many presence phenomena, I can envision negative consequences if it’s not used in moderation). See the original for two more images, and coverage from The University of Kent for more details. –Matthew] VR Boosts Workouts by Unexpectedly Reducing Pain During Exercise Meet your next performance-enhancing drug. By Emma Betuel October 4, 2018 If you walk in on someone exercising with a VR headset on, they might look pretty ridiculous.…

[A new study demonstrates the potential of medium-as-social-actor presence to help develop the social skills of children with autism (and possibly others). The story is from Yale News, where it includes a 2:14 minute video. –Matthew] Robots help children with autism improve social skills By William Weir August 22, 2018 A study led by Yale researchers found significant improvements in the social skills of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) after a month of working with robots. Modeling eye contact and other social behaviors, the robots guided the children of 12 participating families through storytelling and interactive games designed to…