In the Netherlands, an online protest of avatars raised awareness of poverty. [link to source article.]

J.R. this one is for you.

Researchers in Germany have developed gesture recognition technology (via webcam) and an application that allows a virtual avatar to mimic hand gestures, body motions, and facial expressions. [source article]

Imagine this technology combined with the avatar controlling robot technology I covered here, so you could have a robot mimic your gestures and movements!

Scientists in Korea have developed a novel application for controlling a robot existing in the real world via its representation in a virtual space. Having a virtual reality robot that can realize its behaviors in the real world could have applications in a wide variety of areas, including entertainment, education, manufacturing, and psychological treatments.

For more information, click here for source article.

A vest from TN Games simulates the impact of punches or gun shots, for example, from 1st person shooter games.

[source: Technology Review]

Check out this video, which shows a demonstration of an out-of-body experience, an illusion created by having a video camera following you, and seeing your body movements in goggles.

Also, check out this Scientific American article about out of body experiences, with the help of video cameras.

I’ve talked about 3d holographic technology as an exciting frontier for computing before -And here (The Evolution and Future of the Web) this technology won the best emerging technology award at SIGGRAPH 2007.

area/code has designed a gaming experience called SHARKRUNNERS for Discovery Channel’s website. The game uses real shark location data, and you chase them by captaining a virtual science vessel, and when you encounter a shark, you can send divers down for research, which can result in shark attacks! This is a great example of a virtual/real hybrid game, which have tremendous potential for educational and entertainment value.

This is certainly a bit more elegant of a solution than a sphere on wheels.