[There’s no discussion of how workers or customers will respond to them in this short, link-filled story from Futurism, but it’s clear that if Amazon’s investments in humanoid robots and AI software (and augmented reality) come to fruition as planned, we’ll soon be living among human-like robots sure to evoke medium-as-social-actor presence. Note that the story by The Information is behind a paywall at this writing. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Getty/Futurism] Amazon Testing Humanoid Robots to Ride in Vans, Hand-Deliver Packages “Humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles are a must have for Amazon.” By Joe WilkinsJune 6, 2025 Amazon drivers have a…

[Presence-evoking virtual reality is increasingly being used for training workers; here’s an interesting example of the breadth of such applications in a story from Pennsylvania’s Lancaster Farming. The original version of the story includes a link to earlier coverage about the prospects of using augmented reality to “speed up and improve veterinary care” and repair farm equipment. It would be useful to compare the effectiveness of the proposed VR training with more traditional online resources such as those offered by The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Dairy Program. –Matthew] [Image: People playing a virtual reality video game at Ag…

[As reported first in this story from 404 Media, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration are considering the use of presence-evoking technologies that would allow agents to “pat down and feel airline passengers” without actually touching them, which raises significant questions and concerns about the ethical use of presence. See the original version of the story for four more images. –Matthew] [Image: A screenshot from the patent application that explains how a “Haptic Feedback Algorithm” would map a person’s body] TSA Working on Haptic Tech To ‘Feel’ Your Body in Virtual Reality The tech would “detect…

[Google has renamed the telepresence system it’s been developing. Project Starline is now called Google Beam and will become available, at least to businesses, later in 2025. The first-person report below from CNET provides details on and impressions about Google Beam and the latest improvements in the presence experience it provides users (described with a variety of presence-related terms including immersion and connection). See the original version of the story for a 1:14 minute video (also available from CNET here). –Matthew] Google Beam Brings More Natural Video Conversations Within Reach Formerly known as Project Starline, the tech turns video calls…

[This story from the University of Georgia’s UGA Today describes another application of presence for training, in this case for working with other presence-evoking technologies. See the original version of the story for three more images. –Matthew] [Image: The virtual reality rendering of what participants see in the VR Co-Lab] VR could help train employees working with robots Virtual reality gives workers an immersive digital environment to practice complex tasks By Sydney BarrilleauxJune 3, 2025 Working with robots is becoming more common in the recycling industry, helping automate tasks and making complicated work easier.  But training human employees to work…

[This first-person review of a new Formula 1 racing simulator Arcade in Center City Philadelphia (the largest entry in a growing global franchise), includes some interesting insights about what consumers want in an out-of-home presence experience. See the original version of the story from The Philadelphia Inquirer via MSN for four more images. A different MSN story notes that “with nearly 30 additional U.S. venues planned over the next five years, the [F1] brand is rapidly expanding to meet demand for experiential, design-driven spaces.” –Matthew] [Image: The interior of the new F1 Arcade in Center City. Credit: Jose F. Moreno/The…

[While virtual reality is known for creating the misperception that no technology is involved in the user’s experience, augmented reality, disembodied and embodied robots, and a growing number of other technologies can create more nuanced misperceptions that also overlook the roles of technology in mediated experiences. According to the Mashable story below, with the release of a new Google AI model called Veo 3, we need to add videos created with generative artificial intelligence to this latter group of presence-evoking technologies. The new AI videos are said to be so realistic that most people won’t be able to distinguish them…

[According to this review from Consequence (formerly Consequence of Sound), a new Metallica concert film made for the Apple Vision Pro spatial computing headset evokes considerable presence and could indicate that virtual concerts will eventually serve as a replacement for attending concerts in real life. The original version of the review includes a short video trailer (which is also on YouTube) and a different image. A press release about the film is available from Apple. The excerpt from an UploadVR review that follows below suggests that rather than an alternative to attending live concerts in person, the Metallica film and…

[This story from Coaster101 uses clear explanations and examples to describe how presence illusions have been added to roller coaster attractions, including a new use of mixed reality technolog at a theme park in Spain. The original version of the story includes a 3:11 minute POV video of the PortAventura park’s ride (also available on YouTube), a 1:23 minute video trailer for the new MR version (also on YouTube), and an additional image and video. –Matthew] PortAventura Unveils the First Mixed Reality Roller Coaster Experience – What Makes It Better Than VR By Nick WeisenbergerMay 28, 2025 The first mixed…

[I’m really interested in how people came to contribute to the scholarship about and the development of presence-evoking technologies and experiences, and this profile of our friend and colleague Carolina Cruz-Neira, who invented the CAVE, is a great example. It’s from IEEE Spectrum, where the original version includes three more pictures. –Matthew] [Image: In newer versions of the CAVE system, haptic gloves like the ones Cruz-Neira wears here allow users to feel virtual objects. Credit: VARLab/University of Central Florida] A Knee Injury Launched This VR Pioneer’s Career Carolina Cruz-Neira blends art and science to create virtual worlds By Edd Gent,…

[Note the many indirect references to different types of presence experiences in this PR Newswire press release for a new virtual reality concert being released this summer. The original version includes a short video trailer (also available on YouTube) and for more videos see the AmazeVR YouTube and Vimeo channels. –Matthew] CHA EUN-WOO’s First-Ever AMAZE VR Concert “MEMORIES” Launches Global Cinema Tour on June 18 Screening in 21 Cities Worldwide — Including Korea, the U.S., Mexico, China, Japan, and Across Southeast Asia News provided by AmazeVRMay 21, 2025 LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The K-pop and K-drama sensation…

[This “Curmudgeon Corner” essay from the journal AI and Society argues that artificial intelligence technologies should be designed to avoid rather than expand the use of social cues that evoke medium-as-social-actor presence. –Matthew] [Image: “Replika AI companions can be customised to suit the relationship needs of users. Credit: Luka/Replika.” Source: ABC News (Australia)] The tyranny of algorithmic personification and why we must resist it By Palanichamy Naveen, Dr.N.G.P. Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, IndiaApril 26, 2025 We live in an age where algorithms no longer merely personalize—they personify. From virtual assistants that feign empathy to recommendation engines that masquerade as confidants,…