[Last night (October 10, 2021) the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes aired a 14 minute report on the quickly evolving technology of deepfakes and its implications. The report and a transcript are available at the first link in the article below, which is a 60 Minutes Overtime extra feature on the topic that includes a separate 4:36 minute video. For an example of the “cat and mouse game” between those working to detect and generate convincing deepfakes see Discover magazine’s story “How to Spot Synthetic Faces Online – the Clue is in the Eyes.” –Matthew] [Image: An example of a deepfake…

[In this Forbes story “a CEO of SalesChoice, a high tech AI software company passionate about ethical AI practices” raises many of the fascinating issues and questions suggested by technologies that create the experience of seeing, hearing and interacting with loved ones and others after they have died. The story covers lots of ground using examples and a personal writing style; visit the original version for the odd but interesting and relevant experience of listening to an AI voice ‘read’ it; for more on this topic see the article “Telepresence after Death” in Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments. –Matthew] [Image:…

[Defense News reports on the US Army’s development of, and plans for, an ambitious presence-evoking training system; see the original story for a second image. See also a 2018 ISPR Presence News post. –Matthew] [Image: Soldiers use the Integrated Visual Augmentation System to train with the Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer. Credit: U.S. Army] US Army makes headway on Synthetic Training Environment By Adam Stone September 30 ARLINGTON, Va. — The first iteration of the Army’s virtual training environment is in the hands of some troops, giving an early glimpse of the tool’s promise to reshape the way soldiers prepare for…

[A new study conducted at and described in this story from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne reveals differences in how adults and children are able to interact with virtual reality, and nonmediated, experiences. See the original for a large photo gallery and a 2:46 minute video (also available on YouTube) and find more details in the Scientific Reports article. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: EPFL / Alain Herzog] Virtual reality affects children differently than adults Immersive virtual reality disrupts the child’s default coordination strategy, EPFL scientists show, something that should be taken into account when developing virtual reality rehabilitation protocols for children.…

[This New York Times story describes the long history of one man’s use of virtual reality, including some intriguing examples of presence experiences and their effects; see the original version for two more images and a short video. –Matthew] [Image: Wolf Heffelfinger. Credit: Jessica McGlothlin for The New York Times] One Man’s Endless Hunt for a Dopamine Rush in Virtual Reality From Burning Man to spaceships, the technology has carried him through a 10-year fascination that delights, disappoints and continues to improve. By Cade Metz September 29, 2021 On a recent Thursday evening at the City Life Community Center in…

[The DreamCube is a headset-free presence-evoking technology that updates the earlier Cave Automatic Immersive Environment concept and tech. This Fast Company story provides the details; see the original for six more animations and a 44 second video. For more information and images see the Local Project website. –Matthew] See the DreamCube, the immersive spectacle that’s like walking into a video game It’s not sci-fi. The brand has already signed deals with the NBA and Manchester United. October 1, 2021 By Mark Wilson The room is dark. On its floor sits a solitary soccer ball. Suddenly, a glowing halo envelopes the…

[There’s been a lot of press coverage of Amazon’s new Astro robot this week, with a mix of reactions. This story from CNET provides valuable context regarding Amazon’s approach to developing innovative (and often presence-evoking) technology. For more about Astro see Amazon News and the Amazon Science blog. For a mostly negative view about Astro’s potential see a widely cited story in Vice. Here are excerpts from two other technology writers: “Astro is a magnificent feat of science and engineering. But is it actually something you would want in your home? A successful product is one that either addresses an unsolved…

[As the technologies and techniques that evoke presence become more diverse and overlap in different combinations it’s useful to have a classification scheme. This story from Virtual Humans provides one for the virtual influencer industry; see the original story for seven more images. –Matthew] What’s the Difference Between Virtual Influencers, VTubers, Artificial Intelligence, Avatars, and More? Virtual being classifications are diverse; here are some definitions to help keep things clear. By Makena Rasmussen September 27, 2021 When people imagine a virtual influencer, they often picture something out of a science fiction movie: a fully automated, autonomous robot celebrity powered by…

[From The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman to Star Wars and beyond, science fiction has long portrayed replacement limbs that function and are experienced as being the same (or better than) the original limb. New work described in this Cleveland Clinic press release is actually making this possible, allowing amputees to overlook the role of technology in their interaction with objects and people. See the original report for six more images and a 15 second video. More videos are available via YouTube from the Cleveland Clinic, KPVM-TV in Las Vegas, and the Daily Mail – in the…

[As DesignTAXI reports, Virtual Mate claims to produce compelling, realistic “virtual intimacy” with its combination of story, character, realistic graphics, and verbal and physical interaction; the company’s website includes this indirect reference to a strong presence illusion: “As a California-based team of Unreal Engine developers and smart device engineers, we have dedicated years of time, money, and energy to devising an intimate virtual encounter so immersive and realistic, users are losing sight of what’s real or fictional.” See the rest of the website for more information including (some NSFW) images and videos. The reviews are more cautious: “We like Virtual…

[This Digiday story reviews the recent expansion of virtual concert platforms and the spatial and social presence experiences they provide and how companies are using the platforms for marketing and promotion of the metaverse. For more on the Stageverse social VR platform highlighted here see coverage in Road to VR. –Matthew] Why companies are using virtual concerts to introduce their users to the metaverse By Alexander Lee September 21, 2021 As everyday life increasingly moves into digital spaces, companies are taking advantage of consumers’ enthusiasm for virtual concerts to introduce them to the concept of the metaverse. On September 8,…

[This interview with neurosurgeon Sam Browd provides enlightening details about how virtual reality, AI and presence can and hopefully will increasingly improve surgical training and performance. The interview is from Healthcare IT News. –Matthew] [Image: Dr. Sam Browd. Credit: Proprio] Boosted by virtual reality and AI, telesurgery is on the rise “The goal is surgeons who have the world’s best expert surgeon virtually at their side in every case and the experience of thousands of cases,” says University of Washington’s Dr. Sam Browd. By Bill Siwicki September 21, 2021 Dr. Sam Browd is a Seattle neurosurgeon who is taking telemedicine…