[Another place presence-evoking technology can take us… This story is from Astronomy and includes a 2:23 minute interactive 360 degree video (also available via YouTube). –Matthew] [Image: An image from the newly created virtual reality simulation of a black hole. Credit: J.Davelaar 2018.] A new virtual reality experience takes you inside a black hole You can’t visit our galaxy’s supermassive black hole in person, but now you can feel like you’re there. By Chelsea Gohd November 19, 2018 Inside a Black Hole Have you ever wanted to travel to the center of the galaxy and witness the power of a supermassive…

[The refinement of the robot child Affetto’s ability to evoke presence in just 7 years suggests that we may cross the Uncanny Valley in the not-too-distant future. This story is from Gizmodo, where it includes three videos, including a looping video with both versions of the robot; for more information including links to other videos, see the Osaka University press release. –Matthew] You’ve Come a Long Way, Disembodied Robot Baby Jennings Brown November 16, 2018 Over the last seven years, Affetto, a “child-type android” created by researchers at the University of Osaka, has become far more lifelike. In 2011, Affetto…

[Although we rarely think about it, cosmetic surgeries and even make-up are designed to evoke a sense of presence, the perception of the absence of mediation by technology. This story from InStyle makes the point vividly, emphasizing the positive impact these techniques can produce; see the original story for more images. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Ergey Filimonov/Stocksy – Stock.Adobe.com] Hyperrealistic Nipple Tattoos Are Changing the Game for Breast Cancer Survivors By Romy Oltuski October 18, 2018 This April, Piret Aava spent the full duration of a sluggish, five-hour train ride home from Washington, D.C., to New York City drawing nipples. “Someone…

[A November 12, 2018 story on NBC10 in Philadelphia about La Salle University’s success using the simulation program Kognito to help faculty, staff and students identify and help people who are at risk for suicide led me to the May 2018 story below from CNET with more information about Kognito and other uses of its presence-evoking simulations. See also a 5:53 minute video report from February 2018 from Fox5 in New York via YouTube. –Matthew] [Image: Interactive role-play simulations are helping health care professionals build empathy and practice communication skills. Source: Kognito.] Virtual humans could improve conversations at the doctor’s…

[The new Furhat robot addresses the Uncanny Valley and diversity challenges involved in creating medium-as-social-actor presence. The story is from ZDNet, where it includes a 1:02 minute video. There’s also a press release on the company’s website and a collection of videos on YouTube. –Matthew] Robots have a diversity problem. This Swedish startup could change that Furhat Robotics is seeking to revolutionize social robotics by moving away from a one-face-fits-all approach. By Greg Nichols November 13, 2018 Swedish startup Furhat Robotics, which makes a tabletop social robot that’s a bit like an in-your-face Alexa, unveiled its latest generation social robot…

[Two stories on advertising and virtual reality: First, Adweek describes a new Facebook ad campaign for the Oculus Go (Variety also notes the emphasis on media consumption rather than games) and the importance of engagement by current users vs. the number of headsets sold; the story includes four of the ads, which are also available on YouTube (1, 2, 3, 4). Then, 360i reports on the first programmatic advertising (targeted, algorithm-based placements) inside virtual reality experiences, in this case to promote the second season of National Geographic’s television series Mars. See The Drum for more coverage. –Matthew] [Image: The rapper Wiz…