[From MIT’s Technology Review; see also “In ‘Futurama,’ robots follow ‘Bender’s Law,’ not Asimov’s” at CNET] Does a Tele-Robot Operator Need a Visa and W-2? Experts gathered this week at Stanford’s Law School to discuss the robot revolution. Jessica Leber April 11, 2013 As robotics software and hardware is commercialized, companies will face some interesting new conundrums, which may give them pause before adopting technologies ranging from workplace telepresence robots and robotic surgical tools, to driverless cars and commercial drones. But make no mistake, it will be the lawyers just as often as the technologists guiding purchasing decisions, and a…

[From New Scientist, where the story includes a 1:51 minute video] Virtual traveller: Beam a live, 3D you into the world Thanks to a virtual reality and telepresence mashup, you no longer have to travel the globe to visit friends or wander around ancient ruins 11 April 2013 by Catherine Brahic Magazine issue 2912 One day, I’ll play hide and seek with my niece. I’ll turn around while she hides, and later, a flash of purple cotton will make me peer over the log she’s hiding behind. It sounds pedestrian, except I will be in London, Lucie will be 7800…

[From Universe Today] Experience a Virtual Reality Aurora by Nancy Atkinson on April 9, 2013 This is awesome. Astrophotographer Göran Strand took his 30 gigabytes of image data of the incredible aurora he shot on March 17 (which we shared here) and re-tooled everything to fit into an interactive virtual reality-type video where the viewer can move and pan around in any direction. You can watch [here], or click here to see the full screen version and be transported to a small town in northern Sweden called Östersund.…

[From PR Newswire; more images and a 2:32 minute video are available at the Experience Media Studies web site] New Media Capture and Delivery System Gives Users Immersive “Experiences” LAS VEGAS, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Experience Media Studios today announced the worldwide launch of its patent-pending 3DPOV® system, a pioneering new solution for capturing, delivering, and experiencing immersive media. Experience Media Studios’ 3DPOV® system enables the capture of a three-dimensional visual and auditory experience from the first-person perspective.  3DPOV® media delivers a higher level of sensory engagement than virtual reality that replicates a true-to-life binocular and peripheral visual field…

[From Gizmag, where the story includes an image gallery and a 1:05 minute video; more videos are available on Boston Dynamics’ YouTube channel] Shades of Terminator as PETMAN tests hazmat suit By Jason Falconer April 5, 2013 Back in late 2009 Boston Dynamics revealed it was working on a humanoid robot that would test protective clothing for the military. Having already amazed the world three years earlier with the lifelike balancing capabilities of its quadruped BigDog, this would be the company’s first bipedal robot. It was an ambitious project, but it appears the work has paid off. The robot’s eerily…

[From New Scientist, where the story includes a 0:47 minute video] Virtual reality creates infinite maze in a single room 05 April 2013 by Hal Hodson Magazine issue 2911. Step into the labyrinth. Imagine physically wandering through the many rooms and corridors of an endless maze, never seeing the same place twice – but without actually leaving your living room. This is the promise of a new virtual reality (VR) system. It works by tracking the body and head movements of a person wearing a VR headset and guides them through endless sets of virtual spaces as they pace around…