[The evolution of technology to increase media user’s sense of presence continues… The original version of this story from the Daily Mail includes two sidebars, more images, and a related video. The full POV Head Rig press release is available via Newswire. –Matthew] The terrifying mannequin-head camera that could revolutionize VR porn: Device aims to create more ‘intimate emotional attachment’ It has stereoscopic cameras in the eyes and binaural sound microphones Also has multiple cameras across its surface to achieve 4K resolution at 60fps Creators say the POV Head Rig will make virtual reality porn more immersive By Cheyenne Macdonald…

[A recent post here of a story from Haaretz raised provocative questions about the morality of using VR and presence to evoke empathy in users; the story below from The Atlantic describes some important limitations of VR to evoke meaningful empathy beyond situations that involve an immediate physical environment. Read the last three paragraphs for the author’s argument for a technology that’s better for evoking empathy for psychological situations rather than physical ones. –Matthew] [Image: Visitors at MSF’s “Forced From Home” exhibit in DenmarkReuters] It’s Ridiculous to Use Virtual Reality to Empathize With Refugees The technology isn’t the moral game-changer…

[If you’re in or near New York City, you might want to check out this intriguing event that features portrayals of telepresence (we’re studying a wide variety of them in an ongoing research project here by the way). The story below is from Broadway World; see the La MaMa website for more information including images, a video, and descriptions of two more plays in the performance (“Action” and “Simultaneous Transmissions”). And a La MaMa Blogs post features an interview with Jason Trucco, co-director of Hi-Fi / Wi-Fi / Sci-Fi, including his answer to the question “How are you integrating the…

[This story from Digital Trends outlines the challenges the NFL (and other sports leagues) are addressing as they work to bring live, full game coverage in VR to audiences; in a related development, you can watch highlights of this Sunday’s Super Bowl in VR – see coverage in SportTechie for details. –Matthew] You Won’t Watch A Live NFL Game in VR This Year. Here’s Why By Keith Nelson Jr. January 16, 2017 You can experience almost anything in virtual reality. You can be on stage as Paul McCartney performs. You can travel around the globe. You can even watch a…

[This feature from an SMPTE Newswatch email is a long and at times a bit technical but very interesting discussion of the ways mediated images may and may not ever be able to fully reproduce reality for our visual perceptual systems, but may not have to. –Matthew] Hot Button Discussion Human Image Perception By Michael Goldman (bio at end) January 31, 2017 As engineers push ongoing image display technology enhancements, and content creators experiment with how they can utilize those enhancements to tell stories, a few questions naturally come up. How do either engineers or content creators know what average…

[You can observe the new U.S. president in an eerie up-close experience in the Oval Office in the new (free) virtual reality creation Wide Awake; this first person report on the experience is from TechStack247; for more information including images and videos, see the MacInnes Scott website. You can download Wide Awake from Viveport. –Matthew] Trump at 2AM: The new Oval Office in virtual reality By Temidayo — January 21, 2017 Donald Trump stands before me with a grim look on his face, lightly leaning against the Oval Office’s Resolute desk. Moonlight pours in through the office’s rear windows as a phone…