[This is an interesting demonstration of presence and its potential; the story from Engadget includes a second picture, and more information about ALPS’ development and application of haptic technology is available from the company’s website. –Matthew] How about a nice hot cup of virtual tea? Haptics combined with heating and cooling elements deliver the feeling (if not the taste) of a cup of tea. Mat Smith 10.05.16 Electronics company ALPS tests (and manufactures) all kinds of things. But its virtual cup, made possible by haptic technology and heat transmission, is the electronics manufacturer at its weird best.…

[Halloween is a great context for refining intense presence experiences; this story is from IGN, where it includes more images and a 1:16 minute video. More details are available from The Washington Times, and the attraction’s website. –Matthew] The Repository: Universal Orlando’s New VR Horror Experience Scared Us Silly New theme park attraction proves VR isn’t just for videogames anymore. By Matt Cabral 7 October 2016 Spend a day at Universal Orlando’s two connected theme parks and you’ll likely be asked to don a pair of plastic 3D glasses. Whether going toe-to-tentacle with Doctor Octopus in The Amazing Adventures of…

[Here’s another (fun) example of VR moving toward becoming mainstream; the story is from Mashable, where it includes three different images; more details are available in a press release at /Film. –Matthew] [Image: Source: /Film] ‘The Simpsons’ celebrates 600th episode with virtual reality short By Adario Strange October 17, 2016 Not everyone is convinced that virtual reality is the future, but at least one beloved institution, The Simpsons, has hopped onto the VR train. In celebration of the series’ 600th episode, the show decided to offer its opening couch scene in VR using Google Cardboard, and the result is incredible.…

[The use of virtual reality (and presence) to evaluate job applicants as described in this story from Wired raises lots of important questions. The original story includes two more images, and more information is available from Lloyds Banking Group. –Matthew] [Image: This is an example of a virtual world in which the Lloyds graduates will be tested. Credit: Lloyds Banking Group] Your next interview could be in VR: Lloyds trials virtual tests for candidates Lloyds Banking Group is launching a scheme that uses VR headsets to put job applicants to the test in virtual situations By Victoria Woollaston 7 October…

[While Sony’s PlayStation VR debuts today (here‘s a review), another VR platform is in the works, as described in this story from Venture Beat; the original version includes two videos and two other images. A press release is available via Business Wire. –Matthew] [Image: Source: Modal VR] Nolan Bushnell’s Modal VR launches next-generation virtual reality platform for enterprises Dean Takahashi October 12, 2016 Nolan Bushnell, the cofounder of Atari and father of modern video games, is back with a new startup creating a virtual reality platform for enterprises. Modal VR enables companies to set up virtual reality experiences that are…

[Cliff Nass would have loved the work described in this PC Magazine story about cultural differences in social responses to robots. The original story includes more images. –Matthew] When Taking Robots Global, One Size Does Not Fit All Even robots can get lost in translation. PCMag talks to Dr. Selma Sabanovic about the challenges of taking them global. By Sophia Stuart October 2, 2016 Whether it’s robots that dance, robot coworkers, sociable trash cans, or therapeutic devices, Dr. Selma Sabanovic from Indiana University has seen it all. Dr. Sabanovic, an associate professor at the university’s School of Informatics and Computing,…