Like Epic vs. Apple the trial continues and many reflecting on its influence on the future construction of the metaverse, Columbia and UMass Amherst hosted their Reimagine the Internet conference on how to approach the design and cultivation of healthier digital spaces. The archived panels covered topics ranging from disinformation and media literacy to content moderation, QAnon and Peloton.

Social media are outraged by the censorship of users who advocate Palestinians being attacked and driven from their homes by the Israeli occupation. Many activists seeking to raise awareness of the violence in Sheikh Jarrah and Gaza have had their posts removed from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Access Now released a statement alongside other signatories.

Podcast and Immerse Contributor Kent Bye reported on HTC’s VIVECON’s biggest XR-related announcements in This thread. Read more on this week’s episode of Voices of VR, where he interviews Alvin Wang Graylin, the Chinese president of HTC.

People had fun talking about timeline and storytelling in VR as opposed to other mediums like film. It’s part of an ongoing discussion in the field about how to create unique VR experiences instead of just mimicking devices and structures from other art forms.

No Proscenium’s “Everything Immersive” Facebook group hosted a lively conversation about the main projects and creators in the history of “immersive” work. Mentions include older experiences like the play by María Irene Fornés Fefu and his friends and new team projects like Parabolic Theater. Also, renaissance fairs and Disney World.

What are your formative and / or tentpole immersive choices?