Nonprofit Pencils of Promise’s VR story on a school in Ghana.

First up, a brief (and fun) aside: Baobab Studio, who are behind the animated VR “Invasion!,” which you can see in its entirety here, released a preview of the Sci-fi show’s second episode. Check it out here.

One of the great things about VR is that organizations can use the technology to raise awareness about a wide variety of issues. This Washington Post article explores some of the most innovative VR projects with a focus on humanitarian causes. These include transporting users to a school Ghana, the war-torn streets of Aleppo and even grocery shopping through the perspective of someone with dementia.

A screenshot from StoryUP’s VR project for veterans.

StoryUP and Fugitives Editorial are two companies focusing in storytelling VR, particularly for social good. StoryUP started by creating immersive experiences to bring World War II memorials to the veterans who could not visit them. Recently, they did a project in Zambia on mobility-limited individuals. Fugitives Editorial has focused on content related to mental health, including the story of a school teacher in Ghana.

The $99 Samsung Gear VR.

With the release of new VR/AR technology, including the PlayStation VR, how does the various gear stack up? This handy buyer’s guide weighs the pros and cons of four headsets (spoiler: the Samsung Gear VR comes out on top.)

Could 2016 be the year that VR finally enters the mainstream? If so, there are serious challenges to reaching this goal, which include the long road to mass adoption that will most likely be focused in mobile and other lower end technology.