This paper argues that presence, as shown in virtual environments, can usefully be seen as comprising various subtypes and that these in turn may have common conceptual and ontological features with a sense of agency as defined by Russell (1996, Agency: Its Role in Mental Development, Erlbaum.). Furthermore, an analysis of Russell's characterization of the concept of agency may be useful for acquiring insight into the sense of presence itself and the variables affecting it. Empirical evidence from cognitive developmental research and the positive results of attempts to develop symbolic understanding in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in virtual environments suggest that presence may be more about experiencing agency than either pretending to be there or constructing and reconstructing mental models in real time. This analysis is used to shed some light on the current issues of presence research and to open up new philosophical and psychological aspects, in relation to both presence and ASD.

Abstract. In this paper we present a virtual character controlled by an actor in real time, who talks with an audience through an augmented mirror. The application, which integrates video images, the avatar and other virtual objects within an Augmented Reality system, has been implemented using a mixture of technologies: two kinect systems for motion capture, depth map and real images, a gyroscope to detect head movements, and control algorithms to manage avatar emotions.

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The use of augmented reality (AR) in cultural heritage (CH) applications opens a whole set of possibilities, including the virtual transformation of CH elements. This paper presents TinajAR, a mirror-based AR application designed to serve both as an edutainment application in the field of CH and also as an artistic expression. As an edutainment application, TinajAR features a multi-marker video-based AR application designed to show virtual ceramic pieces and explain the pottery process through virtual avatars. As an artistic expression, TinajAR seeks to reinterpret an ancient type of cellar called calado, which was used in the past for storing wine in northern Spain. The reinterpretation consists in giving a different but meaningful use to the space. TinajAR was used by around 1800 people during a ceramics exhibition in La Rioja, Spain and was assessed at the satisfaction level with 56 users by means of a system usability scale, giving very satisfactory results.