[Here’s a vivid first-hand report about an interesting experimental use of VR to evoke presence; it’s from PCWorld, where the story includes two more images. –Matthew] Oculus Rift took me for a ride in a real car during Honda’s trippy Dream Drive They drove, and I watched VR that synced to the motion of the car. I was on a racetrack. In a space station. Trippy indeed. Martyn Williams, IDG News Service July 24, 2015 As I climbed into the car, I didn’t have high hopes. I was trying out Honda’s Dream Drive, a prototype technology that pairs an Oculus…

[This is an unusual example of presence involving perceiving a medium as a social actor; it’s from RocketNews24, where the story includes 13 additional images (via Sina News via Zaeega) (side note: when I accessed DesignTAXI’s coverage of the same story, an advertisement appeared for The Ashton-Drake Galleries Online’s sale of the “Waltraud Hanl ‘Sweet Butterfly Kisses’ ‘So Truly Real’ ’Touch Activated’ Interactive Baby Doll). –Matthew] [Image: Song Bo takes his “daughter” Xiao Die to an IMAX film.] Emotional pictures show lonely man’s trips out with “love doll” daughter [Photos] Fran Wrigley May 6, 2015 Two years ago, Song Bo…

[I’d like to see research results, but it seems likely that the VR component of this important campaign will lead to greater presence, persuasion, and hopefully behavior change, than the same information in video or text. The story is from USA Today, where it features a different image and the short (30 second) and long (3:53 minute) videos; for more information see the AT&T press release via PR Newswire. For details on Volkswagen’s interactive in-theater PSA “Eyes on the Road” (mentioned at the end of the story) see CTV News’ coverage and watch the 1:23 minute video on YouTube.…

[Telepresence history at the White House! This is from Tech Times and more images, and a video of the event, are available from the Disability Visibility Project blog. Gizmodo broadens the focus with “The 5 Best Times Obama Met With Robots.” –Matthew] [Image: President Obama greets Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project Founder, via Beam Pro telepresence robot before a White House reception to mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans Disabilities Act. Posted on Instagram by Pete Souza (@petesouza).] POTUS Meets Robot Guest In The White House For The First Time By J.E. Reich, Tech Times | July 21 So here’s…

[Interesting how small affordances can impact users in powerful ways that blur the real and virtual worlds; this is from SiliconANGLE, where the post includes an additional image. –Matthew] Players in World of Warcraft can now have virtual cats curl up in their virtual laps by Kyt Dotson | Jul 21, 2015 People are already able to play video games and have their cats curl up in their laps—but now World of Warcraft players can have their cats in games curl up on their characters’ laps. It’s cat lap inception! This recent addition to Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.’s cultural juggernaut massively…

[Another realm in which VR and presence are making an impact (pun intended), thanks in part to our colleague Jeremy Bailenson; this is from USA Today, where the story includes more images, videos and links. –Matthew] [Image: STriVR CEO Derek Belch (center) outfits Arkansas quarterback Brandan Allen (left) as Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema looks on. Photo: Walt Beazley, Razorbacks Communications.] Virtual reality becomes a reality for college football George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports June 9, 2015 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When he put on the mask and slipped on the headphones, Brandon Allen wasn’t sure exactly what he was getting into.…