This talk will describe the nature of new technologies now or soon to be offered by Apple, Microsoft, Meta (Facebook) and Amazon that enable users to experience feeling present somewhere other than their actual physical location. They can tour museums or historic sights anywhere in the world and look around “on their own”, feeling like they are really there. Or they can hang out with physically distant family, friends or business colleagues in what some are “hyping” as the metaverse. This all portends significant promises as well as perils: these will be discussed.
