[The latest presence-evoking experiences from Philharmonia Orchestra take you on-stage during performances of works by Beethoven and Mahler. The abridged press release below via The Corner Shop PR provides the details. Find a news report on this topic in The Times (requires subscription). Luke Ritchie, Head of Innovation and Partnerships for the Orchestra, describes the development of the VR projects and the potential and challenges the format represents in a 2017 story in ArtsProfessional. A first person report on the earlier “Virtual Orchestra” experience is available from ClassicFM. The Philharmonia website indicates that all of the showings this month at the…

[Our surroundings when we eat, whether real or virtual, affect how the food tastes to us, according to new research reported in the Cornell Chronicle. For details follow the link to the new publication in the Journal of Food Science. For a related story see a November 2017 post in ISPR Presence News. –Matthew] [Image: Cows enjoy spacious accommodation at the new Cornell University Ruminant Center in Harford, New York. Source: Cornell Chronicle.] Eating with your eyes: Virtual reality can alter taste By Blaine Friedlander September 20, 2018 Humans not only relish the sweet, savory and saltiness of foods, but…

[Presence experiences are increasingly being used to combat and aid recovery from the all-too-common scourge of sexual harassment and violence. This story from Reuters via Canadian HR Reporter highlights the work of some of our colleagues; for more information about Vantage Point, see a March 2018 ISPR Presence News post. –Matthew] Virtual reality tackles real-life sex abuse Umberto Bacchi September 10, 2018 Your boss ends a meeting by grabbing a colleague and asking her to “pack something fitting” for the party you’re all planning after an out-of-town conference. Do you a) say something or b) let it pass? That’s the…

[The creators of a new child robot for training medical students have purposely adjusted the level of presence it evokes for its users by making it as realistic as possible in function but not maximally realistic in appearance. Note the comments in the story from Wired about breaks in presence (without using that term) and the observation that even plain rubber dummies can evoke intense responses. For much more information including images and videos, see the Gaumard website, and see NBC Bay Area for a 3:48 minute video news report and a 9:33 minute 360 video. –Matthew] This Hyper-Real Robot…

[This story from the University of Rochester Medical Center describes a new tool that creates presence illusions to study how the brain and body are affected by neurological diseases and disorders. See the original version for a 3:46 minute video. –Matthew] Researchers Harness Virtual Reality, Motion Capture to Study Neurological Disorders September 05, 2018 Neuroscientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have a powerful new state-of-the-art tool at their disposal to study diseases like Autism, Alzheimer’s, and traumatic brain injury. The Mobile Brain/Body Imaging system, or MoBI, combines virtual reality, brain monitoring, and Hollywood-inspired motion capture technology, enabling…

[This story about the Nuclear Dissent “immersive website” highlights the personal nature of effective presence experiences; it’s from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. See what the author means by visiting the new website. –Matthew] A virtual visit to a nuclear test site By Thomas Gaulkin September 14, 2018 It can be difficult to grasp how nuclear weapons shape world events without confronting the cold, hard facts. There are an estimated 15,000 nuclear warheads on Earth, and the nine nuclear states that have them ran some 2,000 nuclear tests to produce them. Sky-high numbers like that get you part of…

[Some of the most valuable applications of presence are in the human aspects of medical care; this story by the creator of the My MRI Journey app is from The Guardian. An earlier King’s College Hospital press release adds some detail and a user’s reaction: “The VR technology allows children to feel as though they are inside an MRI scanner and experience what it will be like on the day. Children have the opportunity to get accustomed to the loud tapping noises that happen during the scan (this is the electric current in the scanner coils being turned on and…

[Presence-evoking technologies are being used to reproduce important buildings to learn about and allow more people to experience them. This story is from Smithsonian, where it includes a 6:25 minute video; for more details see the links within the story and new coverage in Designboom that features more pictures and a different video. –Matthew] [Image: Source: Designboom] Take a 3D Tour Through Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West New state-of-the-art scans allow virtual visits to the architect’s winter home and gives conservators detailed blueprints By Jason Daley June 21, 2018 As he aged, architect Frank Lloyd Wright became a snowbird.…

[This touching story about a simple use of media technology to connect with and grieve the loss of loved ones seems particularly appropriate on this date. It’s from The Washington Post via The Australian Financial Review, where it includes more images and a 49 minute NHK documentary (which is also available on YouTube). For more coverage you can listen to a 22 minute segment of the NPR program This American Life, and I’ve included an extended excerpt from a new first person report of a pilgrimage to the “phone of the wind” from The Believer below. –Matthew] Japan’s Otsuchi ‘wind…

[This story from USC News describes a new technology that adds the powerful sense of touch to presence illusions. For more information, see a new interview with Professor Culbertson in VentureBeat. –Matthew] [Image: Heather Culbertson, an assistant professor in computer science, designed a low-cost haptic sleeve device that simulates human touch. (USC Photo/Caitlin Dawson)] Armband developed at USC mimics a person’s touch Computer scientist creates sleeve embedded with elements that simulate sensations. The device could be a therapeutic tool for people with anxiety. By Caitlin Dawson July 6, 2018 Imagine a virtual world where someone touches your arm during a…

[The new 17-minute work “Awavena” combines AR, VR and 360-degree film to capture a spiritual experience in the Amazon. The story below is from VICE, where the original includes four more pictures and a 6:53 minute “making of” video. A 10:36 minute podcast discussion is also available from VICE, and more information about how VR creators including the makers of “Awavena” are learning how to tell stories in immersive media is available from Variety. –Matthew] [Image: Hushahu, the first Yawanawá woman to become a shaman, on the bridge to the tribe’s home in the Amazon] This Incredible VR Film Takes…

[Swedish telecom company Com Hem (“Come Home”) commissioned a campaign with advertising agency M&C Saatchi Stockholm that features video ads that vividly illustrate customers experiencing presence. The story below from Adweek is about the latest ad, “Above and Beyond”; see the original story or Vimeo to watch the 1:00 minute ad. Earlier ads include “Dive” (YouTube), “The Astronaut” (Vimeo), “Wherever You Are” (Vimeo), “Summit” (Vimeo), and a Film/TV clip-filled extended ad (YouTube). The campaign has apparently been successful (see coverage in Resumé). –Matthew] [Image: A young pilot pushes his airplane to its limits in this Swedish spot.…