[From Wired, where the story includes more images and a video] [Image: Honda’s newest version of its advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO, signs with its hands during a demonstration for media outlets at the Westin Grand Central Hotel in Manhattan. Andrew White/WIRED] Watch the Astounding Dexterity of Honda’s Dancing Humanoid Robot By Tim Moynihan  04.19.14 Even in today’s rapidly evolving world of technology, there are few things that make your jaw drop when you see them in real life. Honda’s ASIMO is one of those things. When you witness this bipedal humanoid robot hopping in a circle on one foot, taking…

[From BBC News, where the story includes more images and a 0:22 minute video; a longer video is available on YouTube] Cyborg glasses save users the need to control emotions By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor 16 April 2014 As Google continues to stoke excitement for its Glass smart-eyewear, a Japanese researcher has developed a radical alternative. Rather than focus on what the owner sees, Prof Hirotaka Osawa’s kit shows computer-generated eye animations in place of the wearer’s real ones. Special lenses let the user see out or take a secret nap if they prefer. The professor said the glasses…

[From Robohub, where the story includes additional images] [Image: Chris Anderson interviews Edward Snowden, who appears at TED 2014 in Vancouver via BEAM telepresence robot from an unknown location in Russia.] Snowden BEAMs into TED: How robotic telepresence disrupts borders by Hallie Siegel and Andra Keay March 19, 2014 Travel in some parts of the world, or for some people, can be dangerous, but robots may soon change that. Yesterday former-NSA-contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden “walked” onto the TED stage in Vancouver via BEAM telepresence robot, while safely stationed out of the US government’s reach in Russia. It was the first time…

[From Gamespot, where the story includes a 1:40 minute video news report] Oculus creator: “If you can perfectly simulate reality, why do you need to actually go see people in real life?” Palmer Luckey says VR needs to incorporate touch-based feedback to further the feeling of immersion and wonders if some day we’ll think it’s wasteful to actually get on a plane to meet people in the real world. by Eddie Makuch on April 15, 2014 Virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift must expand beyond visuals and allow for touch-based human-to-human interaction, creator Palmer Luckey said in a new…

[From TechWeekEurope UK, where the story includes a 3:27 minute video] Research Team Uses Water Vapour Planes For Interactive Display Screens A Bristol University team has produced “touch-enabled” images that float in the air on a cloud of vapour On April 14, 2014 by Eric Doyle, ChannelBiz Technology that could bring R2D2’s projection of Princess Leia in Star Wars a step closer has been developed by a University of Bristol research team. The MisTable uses a set of vapour curtains as interactive projection screens to display computer images. The team will present their development at the prestigious ACM CHI 2014…

[From The Creators Project blog, where the post includes a 7:00 minute video and many more images] [Video] Leviathan: The Future Of Storytelling By The Creators Project — Apr 9 2014 Considering a future wherein cinematic experiences are participatory, audiences would interact with narratives as if they were concurrently films and video games. Enter: “Leviathan,” an experimental leap forward in cinematic technique that heralds such an evolution: This past January, in collaboration with Intel Labs, the USC School of Cinematic Arts World Building Media Lab unveiled “Leviathan,” at CES 2014’s Intel CEO Keynote speech. As the audience used Intel Ultrabooks…

[From E&T (Engineering and Technology Magazine); more coverage is available from Travolution; the first part of the Skyscanner report is available at skyscanner2024.com] [Image: Wearable technology could provide immediate translations for travellers and suggest holiday destinations] Virtual reality trials for future holiday makers Future holidaymakers will make virtual reality visits to potential destinations and take advantage of semantic search to choose holidays, according to a new report 10 April 2014 By Edd Gent The first of a three-part series of reports from travel comparison site Skyscanner called ‘The Future of Travel 2024’ was revealed at an event in London today,…

[From Yahoo! Tech, where the story includes a 0:54 minute video; more information is available from Land Rover] Land Rover’s New Camera Technology Lets Drivers See ‘Through’ the Car’s Hood Relaxnews/Yahoo Tech Apr 9, 2014 For years, different kinds of cameras have acted as smart mirrors for vehicles, helping drivers better see what’s happening behind them. Now luxury SUV maker Land Rover is expanding on that idea, incorporating a camera under the hood to help drivers better see what’s happening right in front of them. The technology is called the “Transparent Bonnet,” and it overlays a camera feed onto the inside…

[From New Scientist] [Image: Roboy the social robot] The robot tricks to bridge the uncanny valley Giving robots a series of small behavioural tics can make help them appear a lot more human, which makes us feel more comfortable interacting with them 19 March 2014 by Paul Marks If a robot bleeped and squeaked with personality like R2D2 from Star Wars, would you like it better? What if it glanced into the distance when you asked it a question, as though pondering its response? Little behavioural tics like these could be crucial to people accepting robots into their everyday lives.…

[From The Creators Project, where the post includes more pictures and a 3:10 minute video] Experience The Magic Of Iceland Through This Multi-Sensory Book By Bogar Alonso – Apr 7 2014 Long known for its breathtaking vistas, Iceland offers an experience too rich for just one of the five senses. Whereas other literary depictions of the Nordic expanse might only focus on pretty pictures, Hvísl – Whispers of Iceland is a visual and auditory journey. Pages aren’t turned so much as they’re triggered. A colorful arrangement of electronic sensors spark snippets of Icelandic sounds provided by artist Johannes Mandorfer.…

[From Fast Company, where the story includes more images and a video; see also available a story in Architect magazine] [Image: Lifteye projects into the elevator what you would see if the walls were made of glass.] This Elevator Might Make You Forget You’re Stuck In A Metal Death Trap With Strangers What if instead of staring at the walls as we rode up and down, we could look at the view from outside? Sydney Brownstone April 4, 2014 Unless someone comes up with a better way for groups of people to move vertically within tall buildings (pneumatic tubes, anyone?),…

[From VentureBeat; see also coverage by Gigaom] Virtual reality has another ‘wow’ moment as Jaunt introduces 360-degree cinematic videos April 3, 2014 Dean Takahashi I was alone in a room wearing virtual reality goggles. But it felt like I was in a park, surrounded by four Shaolin monks who were threatening me on all sides with martial arts moves. This kind of surround-video experience is what you’ll get from Jaunt, a new entertainment startup coming out of stealth today. On top of announcing a funding round, Jaunt is unveiling for the first time its new way to experience 360-degree videos in…