[A clever invention called the Canetroller developed at Microsoft uses haptic and audio feedback like those provided by a real cane to create presence experiences for the visually impaired. This short story from MSPoweruser includes a 4:45 minute video; follow the link to the full paper at the end for much more information. For other technology developments for the visually impaired see Perkins eLearning. –Matthew] Microsoft creates novel cane controller which lets visually impaired navigate in VR by Surur @mspoweruser Jan 23, 2018 While virtual reality would seem an opportunity to create a brand new interface for the visually impaired…

[This story from People doesn’t use the term presence but it’s all about using technology to transport audiences into another person’s environment and experience. The original story includes a video featuring Laird Hamilton, and see YouTube for an interactive 360 video of “Take Every Wave” and the LifeVR website for more information about this and related presence projects. –Matthew] Ride a 100-Foot Wave with Laird Hamilton in the Surf Legend’s New Virtual Reality Experience Reagan Alexander February 13, 2018 You are not Laird Hamilton. You don’t ride 100 foot waves on a whim. You don’t travel around the world to…

[Here’s a positive scenario for the near-future use of a combination of presence-evoking technologies in schools; it’s from The Washington Post. –Matthew] [Image: People look through Samsung Gear VR virtual reality goggles at the Samsung booth during CES International on Jan. 9 in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)] The future of education is virtual By Vivek Wadhwa, Distinguished Fellow and professor at Carnegie Mellon University Engineering at Silicon Valley and a director of research at Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke University. January 23, 2018 Massive open online courses (MOOCs) were supposed to bring a revolution in education.…

[As described in the news release below, new 4-D goggles developed by neuroscientists at the University of California San Diego “deliver immersive multisensory effects near the face and enhance the sense of presence.”—Matthew] [Image: 4-D goggles developed at UC San Diego. Photo by Ching-fu Chen] New ‘4-D Goggles’ Allow Wearers to be ‘Touched’ by Approaching Objects By Kim McDonald February 08, 2018 A team of researchers at UC San Diego and San Diego State University has developed a pair of “4-D goggles” that allows wearers to be physically “touched” by a movie when they see a looming object on the…

[As this story from TechCrunch notes, even the early version of Imverse’s new software that lets users see themselves and other people and objects inside virtual environments can evoke a strong sense of presence – in fact the author says it “unlocks a new level of presence, which every VR experience and gadget aspires to”). See the original story for more photos and the author’s 0:41 minute narrated demo video of the company’s mixed reality engine from Sundance 2018. –Matthew] Imverse’s groundbreaking mixed reality renders you inside VR Posted Jan 30, 2018 by Josh Constine What if you could look…

[This amusing story from The Scottish Sun is an unusual example of medium-as-social-actor presence. See the original for more pictures, and a follow-up story (with the lead “CAT ASTROPHE”) for more reactions including to a Facebook post by the police division. –Matthew] SCAREDY CATS Frantic Peterhead farmer Bruce Grubb and gun cops cower from tiger for an hour — only to discover it is a cuddly toy Bruce had invited pals round for a housewarming after moving into the farm three weeks ago when the drama unfolded By Stuart Patterson Updated: 6th February 2018 Armed cops were called to tackle…