[A new variation on the Pepper’s Ghost illusion that uses “affordable, commercially available parts to pair computer-generated graphics with carefully directed and controlled jets of air” is said to create a convincing sensation of touch for users, as described in this story from The Conversation. See the linked article in Advanced Intelligent Systems for more details and a video (in the “Supplementary Materials”). –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Design_cells/Shutterstock] We created holograms you can touch – you could soon shake a virtual colleague’s hand By Ravinder Dahiya, Professor of Electronics and Nanoengineering, University of Glasgow September 17, 2021 The TV show Star…

[Without using the term itself, this New York Times opinion column explains how a “face computer” evokes presence, with both positive and negative consequences, and predicts that the technology will replace our smartphones. While presence scholars will be familiar with many of the points made, one I hadn’t thought of concerns how wearing masks has increased our personal and social comfort with wearing something on our faces. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Claire Merchlinsky/The New York Times; photograph by RollingCamera, via Getty Images] Apple and Facebook Are Coming for Your Face Next By Farhad Manjoo, Opinion Columnist September 16, 2021 It is…

[An ambitious project titled “Socially Pertinent Robots in Gerontological Healthcare” (SPRING) utilizes medium-as-social-actor presence to assist hospital and care patients, as described in this story from The Scotsman based on information from the National Robotarium research centre. For more about SPRING, including a 2:55 minute video, see the Heriot-Watt University website and also the PAL Robotics site, and for more about the National Robotarium and other research projects there see the Centre‘s page of the Heriot-Watt University site and coverage in E&T. –Matthew] Three National Robotarium-linked projects which have the potential to changes lives Robots are rising to a range of…

[Google has developed a new way to create high resolution images from low resolution ones, meaning that it’ll be easier to create visuals that evoke presence for use in a variety of media. The original version of this PetaPixel story includes lots of examples; coverage in CineD mentions some possible applications: “This approach could be a perfect fit for security cameras. Also, it could be used in post-production pipelines for not only single images, but for video, and computer graphics […], reducing the strain on the GPU. Future cameras could record 1080p images with better color reproduction and dynamic range…

[Video of augmented reality featuring the mascot of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers in the team’s stadium has gone viral; the technology behind the illusion is explained in this story from The Verge. Coverage from Yahoo! adds these details: “’We started getting calls from around the world asking, What is this? And how can we do it?’ [the Famous Group owner Jon] Slusser said in an interview. ‘I definitely think this was a milestone in augmented reality.’ Soon after launching the raven, TFG was forced to pivot its business in response to COVID-19, working with organizations like ESPN, the Golden State…

[The author of this PC Gamer story interviews philosopher James Tartaglia in addressing some provocative questions raised by the continuing evolution of virtual reality and its ability to evoke presence. See the original story for four more images. –Matthew] [Image: Credit: Yagi Studio, Getty Images] Gamer beware, ultra-realistic VR is a philosophical minefield for humanity Should VR become ultra-realistic? We asked a philosopher. By Jacob Fox September 10, 2021 Virtual reality has come on leaps and bounds over the past few years. Whether we’re talking about the capabilities of the VR tech itself, its price, or the VR games now…

[The telepresencestage.org website describes and provides free resources from “Collaborative Solutions for the Performing Arts: A Telepresence Stage,” a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Excerpts from the website’s pages are below; see the site for more details and images. –Matthew] Collaborative Solutions for the Performing Arts: A Telepresence Stage OVERVIEW: In our safe distancing times, this research is developing effective and affordable techniques to connect theatre and dance performers from their separate homes and place them within virtual sets online to create, rehearse and perform together as if on a real stage. The website provides…

[In this depressing story about the perils of presence, MIT Technology Review reports on the latest developments in the evolution of pornographic deepfake technology. –Matthew] [Image: Animated gif by Pedro Nekoi] A horrifying new AI app swaps women into porn videos with a click Deepfake researchers have long feared the day this would arrive. By Karen Hao September 13, 2021 The website is eye-catching for its simplicity. Against a white backdrop, a giant blue button invites visitors to upload a picture of a face. Below the button, four AI-generated faces allow you to test the service. Above it, the tag…

[The Detroit Bureau reports on the recent demonstration of Mercedes-Benz’ AVTR concept car that features technology designed to evoke multiple forms of presence. See the company’s press release and vehicle profile web page for more information, images and videos. –Matthew] [Image: Source: PC Magazine] Powered by Thought; Mercedes Reveals Update of Vision AVTR Concept Show car explores the use of brain-computer interface applications in cars. By Paul A. Eisenstein, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief September 07, 2021 When the first navigation systems came to market, motorists had to manually type in a destination. Now, they simply have to speak and, in most…

[A new virtual reality experience tells the story of Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who survived 27 hours trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001; in this interview from the Oculus Blog the creators describe how they used the technology to create both spatial and social presence, what they’ve learned about storytelling with VR, and how the medium is uniquely suited to preserving historical events. The original blog post includes four more images and a trailer (also available via YouTube). For more about the survivor stories of Ms. Guzman-McMillan and others, see “In the shadow of the…

[In this interview from the Columbia University Climate School, educator and StudioTEKA design firm principal Vanessa Keith describes her vision for the use of virtual reality and presence to help bring awareness and innovative solutions to the serious challenges of climate change. See the original story for two more pictures. –Matthew] [Image: An image of an NYC alley at night from the virtual reality world “2100.” Credit: StudioTEKA] Can Virtual Reality Save the Planet? By Kristen French August 18, 2021 On Aug. 9, the U.N. released a dire climate report, the first since 2018, that warned of accelerated warming of…

[This Reuters story describes a new effort to reduce concussions from playing soccer by training in virtual reality. See the original story for a 2:03 minute video and four more images, and for a first-person review of the previous version of the VR software see Engadget. –Matthew] [Image: Journalist Pete Hall checks the virtual reality headset “Player 22” by Rezzil, used by pro footballers to combat the risks of concussion from heading, in Manchester, Britain, August 24, 2021. Credit: Reuters/Peter Powell] How virtual reality could help reduce brain injuries By Peter Hall September 1, 2021 MANCHESTER, England, Aug 27 (Reuters)…