[A new humanoid robot named Moya is drawing attention on social media and in the press for some of its realistic attributes. The story below is from New Atlas, where the original version includes the mentioned 1:33 minute video from Shanghai Eye (the video is also available on YouTube). Additional details from Interesting Engineering and TechRadar follow below. More videos are available from the South China Morning Post (1:11 on YouTube), Hola Fujian (0:28 on Facebook, with the tagline “Science fiction coming to life”), and AI Revolution (a detailed 13:30 minute report). –Matthew] [Image: Source: Interesting Engineering] She walks, shows…

[A government’s use of AI to alter images of real people and events to manipulate perceptions of media users is clearly unethical and a serious peril of increasingly sophisticated presence-evoking technology. This story from AP describes examples of this behavior by President Trump and his administration along with the views of several experts regarding the dangers it brings. See the original version of the story for an interactive version of the header photographs as well as a second image. –Matthew] [Image: An image of Nekima Levy Armstrong posted by Kristi Noem (left) and a manipulated image of her posted by…

[This story from Penn State Schuylkill provides another example of how an interdisciplinary team of experts, supported by their university, can use presence-evoking technology to enhance student experiences and learning outcomes. Follow the link in the story for more information. –Matthew] [Image: Penn State Schuylkill students, Noy Halimi and Jayden Blankenhorn using VR headsets in Theatre 105 class. Credit: Penn State.] Theatre students use virtual reality to explore ancient performance spaces February 3, 2026 SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Students in Theatre 105 at Penn State Schuylkill are stepping into the past using modern technology, exploring ancient and historic performance spaces…

[A mismatch between the sound of a robot’s voice and the movements of its lips draws attention to the technology during an interaction, making a presence response impossible. Engineers at Columbia University are addressing the problem by having their robot EMO learn to move its lips by watching itself in a mirror and watching recordings of humans speaking and singing. As the lead researcher explained to the author of this story from Columbia Engineering, “human faces are the ultimate interface for communication, and we are beginning to unlock their secrets.” For more information, watch a 1:16 minute video of EMO…

[Engineering, computer science and psychology professors and students at California State University, Long Beach are using a CAVE virtual environment to test how pilots respond to different design features of what someday are intended to be on-demand “urban air mobility vehicles” (UAMs), as reported in this story from the Long Beach Post. See the original version of the story for four more vivid images. More information about the BeachCAVE system is available from the university’s website. –Matthew] [Image: Professor Praveen Shankar, left, and Panadda Marayong watch as student Kieran Whitney runs a flight simulator at Cal State University Long Beach…

[This spring six basketball games are being made available specifically for viewing with Apple Vision Pro spatial computing headsets. The experience of watching the first game is described in this story from 9to5Mac, other reports are available from CNET, ZDNet, Forbes and Stratechery. The only negative assessment is “Apple: You (Still) Don’t Understand the Vision Pro” from Stratechery, which includes this: “What is so frustrating is that the right approach is so obvious that I wrote about it the day you announced this device: one camera, with no production. Just let me sit courtside and watch an NBA game.…

[The potential impacts of presence, especially in the context of health care, require a serious mindset and user-centric, policy-based practices. That’s the message in this essay from Healthcare Today, where the original version includes two more images. For more about the author, see a story in CIO Times. –Matthew] Comment: The ethics of immersion VR therapy Nargiz Noimann, founder of X-Technology, writes about the patient safety and liability gap in virtual reality therapy. By Nargiz NoimannJanuary 27, 2026 Immersive virtual reality (VR) therapy is entering care pathways faster than the governance around it. I do not say that to slow…

[This story from invidis (“the leading information portal for the Digital Signage industry in Europe”) describes two DOOH (Digital Out of Home) installations designed to evoke presence in passersby. See the original version of the story for three more photos and a 1:19 minute video (also available on Vimeo). –Matthew] [Image: Perrier Jouet Champagne DooH campaign in NYC. Credit: invidis] Immersive Window Experience in Vacant Stores New York City | The French Champagne house Perrier‑Jouët transforms vacant retail real estate into immersive holiday showcases. In collaboration with Publicis and immersive media specialist Visual Feeder, the brand converted two empty storefronts…

[This story from Military Times describes the origins of the company Neurova Labs and its use of presence-evoking virtual reality to treat “service members dealing with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, addiction and suicidal ideation.” The author writes that “instead of relying on traditional talk therapy or exposure-based models, Neurova Labs uses immersive virtual reality gameplay to influence how the brain regulates blood flow under stress.” Although research results aren’t provided, the story includes anecdotal descriptions of the treatment’s effectiveness. See the original story for a video (also available on Instagram); the same author also describes his own experience with…

[Two EU-funded initiatives, HEAT (Hybrid Extended reality) and SPIRIT (Scalable Platform for Innovations on Real-time Immersive Telepresence), are helping researchers improve presence-evoking technologies for a variety of applications. Details are provided in this story from Horizon (“The EU Research and Innovation Magazine”); much more information is available via the links at the end. –Matthew] [Image: Telepresence research is bringing far-off interactions closer than ever. Credit: Gorodenkoff, Shutterstock] Tech moves to holograms, fine dining and teleporting classes for more immersive experience Researchers are pushing telepresence technology beyond video calls, from Star Wars-style holograms to virtual fine dining and classrooms that leap…

[With a major winter storm in the forecast, it’s a good time to learn about how some of the professionals who work to restore electrical power after storms are using presence-evoking virtual reality to stay safe in hazardous conditions. This story is from South Carolina’s Post and Courier, where the original version includes five more images and a 1:14 minute video. For a related story, see the May 2025 ISPR News post “Digital twins and virtual reality transform electric utility workforce training at Virginia Tech.” –Matthew] [Image: Travis Renwick, a lineman-turned-trainer, demonstrates a simulation using a virtual reality headset, Wednesday,…

[Here are two stories about how the U.S. military is increasingly turning to presence-evoking technologies to replace in-person training. The first story is from Task & Purpose and the second is from Forbes; see the original versions of each story for an additional image. –Matthew] [Image: Army Spc. Elijah Sims uses a virtual reality headset at Rose Barracks, Army Garrison Bavaria, Vilseck, Germany. Credit: Army photo by Pfc. Jolene Cintron.] The Army wants soldiers to travel less for training, do more in virtual reality Army leaders said they are looking at more virtual reality and remote training inspired by civilian…