[Although the term isn’t used here, one could argue that the most intense and compelling sense of presence occurs at the center of the Venn diagram in this story from TechCrunch, another step toward what the author calls “the experience age.” –Matthew] The future of mobile video is virtual reality Posted Aug 30, 2016 by Mike Wadhera After the dust settles, the real takeaway from Instagram’s cloning of Snapchat is that the connected camera revolution is just beginning. Instagram Stories sends a powerful message to hundreds of millions of people for the first time: No moment is too small to…

[Here’s a detailed first-person description of how to use VR (and presence) in the classroom. It’s from the New York Times, where it includes more images. –Matthew] Reader Idea | New York Times Virtual Reality in the Classroom By The Learning Network August 31, 2016 Using virtual reality, or VR, in the classroom can help students learn about the world in a powerful new way, says Cayne Letizia. In this series of lessons, he uses Times VR reporting as a way to hook students on stories about everything from the refugee crisis to life on Pluto to the secret languages…

[The film Viens! is “an experiment meant to transform and ‘test the boundaries of intimacy, presence and empathy’”; this story from Broadly raises several interesting questions about the future of VR and presence experiences (the original story features more images and related links). –Matthew] What It’s Like to Experience a Virtual Reality Orgy If you thought real orgies weren’t nerve-racking enough, try sitting through a tantric sex film shot in 360 degree virtual reality. by Katherine Templar Lewis Aug 30 2016 “Put your feet on the ground. Don’t hold the headset. And breathe.” The experience will only last 12 minutes,…

[The installation described in this story from The Creators Project should evoke a welcome sense of spatial presence among travelers. The original includes different images and a 1:08 minute video, and for more photos and information see the project’s page on the Studio Roosegaarde website. –Matthew] A Dutch Artist Takes Augmented Reality into the Clouds DJ Pangburn — Aug 28 2016 If travelers happen to visit Departure Hall 3 of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, they may notice an immersive installation of clouds. Titled Beyond, Dutch artist Daan Roosegaard’s latest work is a “cloud wall” that creates the impression of a 3D…

[As this story from Vox explains, the new game No Man’s Sky not only adds evidence to the debate about the possibility that our entire world is a convincing simulation, it raises deep questions about the nature and purpose of our lives. Here’s a quote from the second-to-last paragraph: “[B]y refusing to provide you with a purpose, it forces you to reconcile with the essential emptiness of its universe, with the pointlessness of a game whose only reward is the opportunity to continue playing the game. It is cold and lonely and empty and unsatisfying — and that may be…

[There are certainly lots of challenges, but this new patent from Google is an interesting approach to creating effective and useful telepresence experiences. The story is from TechRepublic, where it includes different images; the patent is available from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. –Matthew] [Image: Source: Quartz; credit: AP Photo/John Locher] Google may soon take conference calls to the sky with video conferencing drones On Tuesday, Google was awarded a patent for a quadcopter with cameras and screens. But could it replace traditional video conference calls? By Alison DeNisco August 10, 2016 Conference calls may soon take flight, literally:…