[In the right circumstances the sense of spatial presence evoked by technology may lead to better outcomes than the equivalent experience in the nonmediated world. A new study from Drexel University compared brain activity, behavioral measures, and self-assessments when people solved visuospatial problems presented on a 2D computer screen, in virtual reality, and in the nonmediated world. As this story from Drexel reports, the researchers conclude that “VR’s capacity to create immersive spaces – complete with better mental imagery and visual cues for learning – may in some cases be a better option than a traditional real-world or computer screen-based…

[For safety reasons and to enhance the driver’s experience, manufacturers of electric-powered vehicles typically incorporate speakers that add sounds to the minimal noises the vehicles otherwise make (see a 2023 CTech story for details). In the story below, CarBuzz reports on new patents filed by Ferrari for the use of other presence-evoking technologies that create “a fully immersive experience… The end goal is an authentic auditory experience and one that provides genuine acoustic feedback.” See the original version of the story for ten more images. –Matthew] Ferrari Will Make Electric Supercars Sound Good Without Speakers Ferrari is ensuring that even…

[This story from The Verge provides a vivid, example-filled look at how teens are interacting with AI chatbots, with both positive and potentially negative consequences. Here’s just one presence-related quote: “Character.AI users have also struggled with telling their chatbots apart from reality: a popular conspiracy theory, largely spread through screenshots and stories of bots breaking character or insisting that they are real people when prompted, is that Character.AI’s bots are secretly powered by real people.” See the original version of the story for two more images. –Matthew] [Image: Illustration by Ard Su for The Verge] The teens making friends with…

[As reported in this story from MIT Technology Review, the incorporation of AI and other enhancements are expanding the potential effectiveness of social robots in helping to care for patients with dementia; see the original version of the story for a second image. –Matthew] How cuddly robots could change dementia care Researchers are using AI and technological advancements to create companion robots By Cassandra WillyardMay 17, 2024[This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first, sign up here.] Last week, I scoured…

[The dark side of presence is the focus of this story from Wired about the use of real-time deepfake romance scams. See the original story for two short videos. –Matthew] [Image: Photo illustration credit: Jacqui Vanliew; Getty Images] The Real-Time Deepfake Romance Scams Have Arrived Watch how smooth-talking scammers known as “Yahoo Boys” use widely available face-swapping tech to carry out elaborate romance scams. By Matt BurgessApril 18, 2024 The compliments start flowing as soon as she answers the video call. “Wow, you so pretty, honey,” says the man on the other side of the screen. His video feed shows…

[This thoughtful first-person report from MIT Technology Review describes what it’s like to have the AI startup company Synthesia create a synthetic version of yourself, and considers some of the implications of the fast-evolving technology. This is an abridged version of the story; see the unabridged original for more information, many more images, and two videos. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: David Vintiner] An AI startup made a hyperrealistic deepfake of me that’s so good it’s scary Synthesia’s new technology is impressive but raises big questions about a world where we increasingly can’t tell what’s real. By Melissa HeikkiläApril 25, 2024 I’m…