[From Gizmodo; a 1:08 minute video is at BoingBoing; more examples of this type of augmented reality are available at Victor Petit’s web site] Talking Comic Books Take All Of the Imagination Out Of It Andrew Liszewski Jul 7, 2012 We’re not ones to hold back the march of technology, even when it comes to our beloved comic books. Having them electronically delivered to our beautiful retina display devices is a dream come true. But we can’t help but raise an eyebrow at Valiant Entertainment’s new talking comic book cover. Created for issue #1 of the company’s X-O Manowar comic,…

[From FotoRater; more details follow below] The camera that lets you take pictures with your eye by Marc Cameron on Jun 27, 2012 Steven Spielberg’s superior dystopian thriller Minority Report is famous for showcasing a number of future technologies that are now either a reality or close to being one, including multi-touch interfaces, retina scanners and customised advertising boards. It’s made the previously unthinkable a real possibility, which is why we’re excited about the arrival of the Minority Report-esque IRIS – an eye-controlled camera. Could it also become a reality? We wouldn’t bet against it! Designed by Royal College of…

[From news@Northeastern; much more information is available from PublicVR] [Image: Two Northeastern University digital media students have made crucial contributions to an interactive virtual reality experience called “The Egyptian Oracle,” in which avatars, live actors and audience members reenact an authentic Egyptian ceremony.] A virtual-reality history lesson July 11, 2012 by Jason Kornwitz Two Northeastern University digital media students have made crucial contributions to an interactive virtual-reality experience called “The Egyptian Oracle,” in which avatars, live actors and audience members reenact an authentic Egyptian ceremony. The show will be performed in the Raytheon Amphithe­ater on Friday at 7 p.m.…

[From PC Magazine] Scientists Demo Thought-Controlled Robots By Adario Strange July 9, 2012 In the 2009 film Surrogates, based on the popular graphic novel, Bruce Willis is shown struggling in a world dominated by realistic robot avatars controlled by humans sitting comfortably in their homes. Often injured or somehow disfigured, opting to interact with the world from a distance, the people are shown seamlessly operating their metal doppelgangers via a brain link apparatus that goes mostly unexplained in the film. Now, a team of researchers based in laboratories around the globe, have developed a system similar to the one depicted…

[From BostInno] MIT’s Media Lab Brings Watching Movies at Home to a Whole New, Immersive Level [Video] June 24th, 2012 by Lauren Landry People run to the theater to see 3-D movies, why? Sure, because Avatar looks cool, but also because they want to be immersed in the experience, making their way through Pandora and helping protect the world alongside long-legged, blue-bellied supernatural creatures. Yet, what if you could achieve a similar experience at home without ever having to throw on a pair of cardboard glasses? Over at the MIT Media Lab, in the Object-Based Media research group, V. Michael…

[From The Plano Star-Courier, where the story includes more images] Bridging the gap between reality and the virtual world By Bill Conrad Published: Thursday, June 21, 2012 VIRTSIM, the next innovation in tactical police and military training, was unveiled Friday morning in an east Plano warehouse owned by Raytheon. To date, the technology has been sold to the FBI, and has also been used by U.S. armed forces, U.S. Marshals and police departments in cities such as Plano and Frisco. Eight members of the McKinney Police Department’s S.W.A.T. team donned special goggles, firearms and motion-capture equipment prior to beginning their…