[From Neurogadget, where you can watch the 4:56 minute video] Mind-controlled virtual reality system combines the forces of Emotiv EPOC, Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra By Neurogadget; November 7, 2013 This awesome VR project combines the forces of three sophisticated gadgets to take mind-controlled virtual reality to the next level. Use your mind to move around with the Emotiv EPOC brain-interface, look around with the Oculus Rift 3D headset, and move your hands to interact with virtual objects holding the Razer Hydra gaming controller.

[From Motherboard, where the story features a 10:21 minute video; the discussion at the end in particular refers to presence, even though the term itself isn’t used] How to Use Virtual Reality to Replicate Psychosis By Alejandro Tauber November 5, 2013 In 2005, artist Jennifer Kanary’s sister-in-law committed suicide while suffering from a psychotic episode. This event led Kanary to develop Labyrinth Psychotica, an experience designed to give people more insight into how it feels to suffer through psychosis. Users are strapped into virtual reality gear and transported into the mind of a psychotic girl named Jamie. The whole experience…

[From Syracuse University News] Art Meets Technology in Newhouse M.I.N.D. Lab Friday, November 1, 2013   By SU News Art meets technology in pioneering ways in a new facility opening Monday, Nov. 4, in the AXA Equitable Tower, located in downtown Syracuse on the Connective Corridor. Newhouse M.I.N.D. Lab is debuting its new world-class research and design center, featuring large-format new media technology and visualization space, augmented reality, 3D computer graphics and human computer interaction. SU Arts Engage is opening co-located new community performance space, combining physical expression, such as dance and theater, with the world of 3D projection and virtual…

[This is terrible news, both personally and professionally. From the Stanford Daily] [Image: Courtesy of Linda A. Cicero] Clifford Nass, communication professor, dies at 55 By Ileana Najarro November 4, 2013 Clifford Nass, professor of communication and director of the Communication Between Humans & Interactive Media (CHIMe) Lab, died of a heart attack this weekend at age 55. James Fishkin, chair of the Communication Department, said Nass was attending the Stanford Faculty and Staff Program of the Stanford Sierra Camp when the fatal heart attack occurred. Fishkin added that the news came as a shock. “He was a force of…

[From Gamasutra, where the post includes a picture] [Image: Wikipedia] Do We Need 4K Resolution For Immersive Virtual Reality? by Ivan Blaustein on 10/29/13 The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company. Oculus HD and Beyond Shortly after shipping 10,000 developer kits, the folks at Oculus announced that they had made an HD Prototype of the Rift that has a 5? screen and a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Oculus set up a booth at the…

[It’s all about social realism and the suspension of disbelief! From the Nerdist blog; watch the trailer here] HELL NO: The Sensible Horror Film by Kyle Anderson on October 17, 2013 It’s being hailed as “the most realistic horror movie ever.” Why? Because the characters in it aren’t stupid and don’t put themselves in dumb situations. This hilarious short/faux movie trailer from director Joe Nicolosi shows us every single scenario we’ve ever seen in scary movies, and then it shows the people involved actually doing the things we’ve been yelling at the screens since there have been movies that are…

[From Fast Company’s Co.CREATE blog, where the story includes more pictures] Your Halloween Is Sorted With These Gory, iPhone-Enabled Costumes From An Ex-NASA Engineer If you’ve got a smartphone and 30 bucks, you no longer have an excuse for not having a killer Halloween costume. By Dan Solomon October 9, 2013 Mark Rober was just your average mechanical engineer for NASA, working for seven years helping to build the Mars Rover, when he finally found his true passion: Halloween costumes. In 2011, Rober figured out that, with FaceTime, he could create one of the grislier costumes the human mind had…