Telepresence
Telepresence refers to a set of
Telepresence requires that the users' senses interact with specific
A popular application is found in
A similar or identical concept is telexistence, which was first proposed by Susumu Tachi in Japan in 1980[1] and 1981[2] as patents and the first report was published in Japanese in 1982[3] and in English in 1984.[4]
History
In a pioneering paper, the U.S. cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky attributed the development of the idea of telepresence to science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein: "My first vision of a remote-controlled economy came from Robert A. Heinlein's prophetic 1948 novel, Waldo," wrote Minsky.[5] In his science fiction short story "Waldo" (1942), Heinlein first proposed a primitive telepresence master-slave manipulator system.
The Brother Assassin, written by Fred Saberhagen in 1969, introduced the complete concept for a telepresence master-slave humanoid system. In the novel, the concept is described as follows: "And a moment later it seemed to all his senses that he had been transported from the master down into the body of the slave-unit standing beneath it on the floor. As the control of its movements passed over to him, the slave started gradually to lean to one side, and he moved its foot to maintain balance as naturally as he moved his own. Tilting back his head, he could look up through the slave's eyes to see the master-unit, with himself inside, maintaining the same attitude on its complex suspension."
The term telepresence, a neologism due to the futurist
The first commercially successful telepresence company, Teleport (which was later renamed TeleSuite), was founded in 1993 by David Allen and Herold Williams.[9] Before TeleSuite, they ran a resort business from which the original concept emerged because they often found businesspeople would have to cut their stays short to participate in important meetings. Their idea was to develop a technology that would allow businesspeople to attend their meetings without leaving the resorts so that they could lengthen their hotel stays.
Destiny Conferencing licensed its patent portfolio to
A telepresence research project has started in 1990. Located at the University of Toronto, the Ontario Telepresence Project (OTP) was an interdisciplinary effort involving social sciences and engineering. Its final report stated that it "...was a three year, $4.8 million pre-competitive research project whose mandate was to design and field trial advanced media space systems in a variety of workplaces in order to gain insights into key sociological and engineering issues. The OTP, which has ended in December 1994, was part of the International Telepresence Project which linked Ontario researchers to their counterparts in four European nations. The Project's major sponsor was the Government of Ontario, through two of its Centres of Excellence—the Information Technology Research Centre (ITRC) and the Telecommunications Research Institute of Ontario (TRIO)."[12]
Benefits
An industry expert described some benefits of telepresence: "There were four drivers for our decision to do more business over video and telepresence. We wanted to reduce our travel spend, reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact, improve our employees' work/life balance, and improve employee productivity.".[13]
Rather than traveling great distances in order to have a face-face meeting, it is now commonplace to use a telepresence system instead, which uses a multiple codec video system (which is what the word "telepresence" most currently represents). Each member/party of the meeting uses a telepresence room to "dial in" and can see/talk to every other member on a screen/screens as if they were in the same room. This brings enormous time and cost benefits. It is also superior to phone conferencing (except in cost), as the visual aspect greatly enhances communications, allowing for perceptions of facial expressions and other body languages.
Mobile collaboration systems combine the use of video, audio and on-screen drawing capabilities using newest generation hand-held mobile devices to enable multi-party conferencing in real-time, independent of location. Benefits include cost-efficiencies resulting from accelerated problem resolution, reductions in downtimes and travel, improvements in customer service and increased productivity.[14]
Implementation
Telepresence has been described as the human experience of being fully present at a live real-world location remote from one's own physical location. Someone experiencing video telepresence would therefore be able to behave and receive stimuli as if part of a meeting at the remote site. The aforementioned would result in interactive participation of group activities that would bring benefits to a wide range of users.[15]
Implementation of human sensory elements
To provide a telepresence experience, technologies are required that implement the human sensory elements of vision, sound, and manipulation.
Vision and sound
A minimum system usually includes visual feedback. Ideally, the entire field of view of the user is filled with a view of the remote location, and the viewpoint corresponds to the movement and orientation of the user's head. In this way, it differs from television or cinema, where the viewpoint is out of the control of the viewer.
In order to achieve this, the user may be provided with either a very large (or wraparound) screen, or
Another source of future improvement to telepresence displays, compared by some to
Sound is generally the easiest sensation to implement with high
Manipulation
The ability to manipulate a remote object or environment is an important aspect for some telepresence users and can be implemented in a large number of ways depending on the needs of the user. Typically, the movements of the user's hands (position in space and posture of the fingers) are sensed by
The more closely the robot re-creates the form factor of the human hand, the greater the sense of telepresence. The complexity of robotic effectors varies greatly, from simple one axis grippers, to fully anthropomorphic robot hands.
Haptic teleoperation refers to a system that provides some sort of tactile force feedback to the user, so the user feels some approximation of the weight, firmness, size, and/or texture of the remote objects manipulated by the robot. A new form of technology, called collaborative telepresence, is currently being developed which will eventually be used to collaborate with others while seeming like you are in the same room as the other person, keeping a normal social distance. Collaborative telepresence uses haptic sensors like these to allow a sense of touch.
Freedom of movement
The prevalence of high quality video conferencing using mobile devices, tablets and portable computers has enabled considerable growth in telepresence robots to help give a better sense of remote physical presence for communication and collaboration in the office, home or school when one cannot be there in person. The robot avatar can move or look around at the command of the remote person. Drivable telepresence robots – typically contain a display (integrated or separate phone or tablet) mounted on a roaming base. Some examples of roaming telepresence robots include Beam by Suitable Technologies, Double by Double Robotics, Ava Telepresence by Ava Robotics, Anybots, Vgo, TeleMe by Mantarobot, and Romo by Romotive.[17]
More modern roaming telepresence robots may include an ability to operate autonomously. The robots can map out the space and be able to avoid obstacles while driving themselves between rooms and their docking stations.[18]
Effectiveness
Telepresence's effectiveness varies by degree of fidelity. Research has noted that telepresence solutions differ in degree of implementation, from "immersive" through "adaptive" to "lite" solutions.[19] At the top are immersive solutions where the environments at both ends are highly controlled (and often the same) with respect to lighting, acoustics, decor and furniture, thereby giving all the participants the impression they are together at the same table in the same room, thus engendering the "immersive" label.
Adaptive telepresence solutions may use the same technology, but the environments at both ends are not highly controlled and hence often differ. Adaptive solutions differ from telepresence lite solutions not in terms of control of environments, but in terms of integration of technology. Adaptive solutions use a managed service, whereas telepresence lite solutions use components that someone must integrate.
Transparency of implementation
A good telepresence strategy puts the human factors first, focusing on visual collaboration configurations that closely replicate the brain's innate preferences for interpersonal communications, separating from the unnatural "talking heads" experience of traditional videoconferencing. These cues include life–size participants, fluid motion, accurate flesh tones and the appearance of true eye contact.
Rarely will a telepresence system provide such a transparent implementation with such comprehensive and convincing stimuli that the user perceives no differences from actual presence. But the user may set aside such differences, depending on the application.
The fairly simple telephone achieves a limited form of telepresence using just the human sensory element of hearing, in that users consider themselves to be talking to each other rather than talking to the telephone itself.
Watching
As the screen size increases, so does the sense of immersion, as well as the range of subjective mental experiences available to viewers. Some viewers have
Because most currently feasible telepresence gear leaves something to be desired; the user must
Related technologies
Virtual presence (virtual reality)
Telepresence refers to a user interacting with another live, real place, and is distinct from
Presence is very similar to distal attribution or externalization which is like projecting one's presence and mind beyond the limits of our sensory organs and perceiving the environment in such a way. A distinction is made between two separate perceptions. The first being the unmediated perceptions in which we are unable to feel anything beyond our physical surroundings. The second being the mediated presence through technology which forces us to suddenly perceive two different environments at the same time: The one immediately around us and the one projected for us through technology. Mediated experiences are not limited to virtual technology and can also be experienced with spatially distant places such as space with a telescope or a camera.[22]
Applications
Application examples could be cited within emergency management and security services, B&I, and the entertainment and education industries.[15]
Connecting communities
Telepresence can be used to establish a sense of shared presence or shared space among geographically separated members of a group.[citation needed]
Hazardous environments
Many other applications in situations where humans are exposed to hazardous situations are readily recognised as suitable candidates for telepresence. Mining, bomb disposal, military operations, rescue of victims from fire, toxic atmospheres, deep sea exploration, or even hostage situations, are some examples. Telepresence also plays a critical role in the exploration of other worlds, such as with the Mars Exploration Rovers, which are teleoperated from Earth.
Pipeline inspection
Small diameter pipes otherwise inaccessible for the examination can now be viewed using pipeline video inspection.
Remote surgery
The possibility of being able to project the knowledge and the physical skill of a surgeon over long distances has many attractions. Thus, again there is considerable research underway in the subject. (Locally controlled robots are currently being used for joint replacement surgery as they are more precise in milling bone to receive the joints.) The armed forces have an obvious interest since the combination of telepresence, teleoperation, and telerobotics can potentially save the lives of battle casualties by allowing them prompt attention in mobile operating theatres by remote surgeons.
Recently,
Education
Research has been conducted on the use of telepresence to provide professional development to teachers. Research has shown that one of the most effective forms of teacher professional development is coaching, or cognitive apprenticeship. The application of telepresence shows promise for making this approach to teacher professional development practical.[25]
The benefits of enabling schoolchildren to take an active part in exploration have also been shown by the JASON and the NASA Ames Research Center programs. The ability of a pupil, student, or researcher to explore an otherwise inaccessible location is a very attractive proposition; For example, locations where the passage of too many people is harming the immediate environment or the artifacts themselves, e.g. undersea exploration of coral reefs, ancient Egyptian tombs, and more recent works of art.
Another application is for the remote classroom which allows a professor to teach students in different campuses at the same time. An example of this application is in classrooms of the law schools of
Telepresence art
True telepresence is a multidisciplinary art and science that foundationally integrates engineering, psychology, and the art of television broadcast.
In 1998, Diller and Scofidio created the "Refresh", an Internet-based art installation that juxtaposed a live web camera with recorded videos staged by professional actors. Each image was accompanied with a fictional narrative which made it difficult to distinguish which was the live web camera.
In 1993, Eduardo Kac and Ed Bennett created a telepresence installation "Ornitorrinco on the Moon", for the international telecommunication arts festival "Blurred Boundaries" (Entgrenzte Grenzen II). It was coordinated by Kulturdata, in Graz, Austria, and was connected around the world.
From 1997 to the present
An overview of telepresence in dance and theatre through the last 20 years is given in «Excited Atoms»[28] research document by Judith Staines (2009) which one can download from the On The Move website.
Vendors
Popular culture
Telepresence is represented in media and entertainment.
Literature
- Solaria, a planet with an extremely low population where all personal contact is considered obscene, and all communication occurs through holographic telepresence.
- Neuromancer (1984) – a novel that not only uses telepresence extensively but introduces cyberspace and the Internet (aka the Matrix) as the underlying vehicle to make telepresence possible.
Television
- Space: Above and Beyond (Episode 20, "Star Dust" - April 19, 1996)
- 24 (2001–2010)
- The Big Bang Theory (Episode 65, "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" - September 2010)
- Modern Family (Episode 144, "American Skyper" – May 2015)
- Bob's Burgers (Episode 115, "Ex Mach Tina" – January 2017)
- Community (Episode 102, "Laws of Robotics and Party Rights" – April 2015)
Film
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – Tony Stark uses the Mark 42 suit using telepresence technology.
- Ra.One (2011)
- Darkdrive (1996)
- Avatar (2009)
- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
- Gamer (2009)
- Surrogates(2009)
- Sleep Dealer (2008)
- Avalon (2001)
- The Matrix (1999)
- The holographictechnology used for communication
- A Hologram for the King (2016) uses telepresence as a main theme
Video games
- Splinter Cell: Conviction(2010)
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007)
- Mass Effect 2 - Commander Shepard communicates with the Illusive Man using a quantum entanglement based telepresence system.
- non-player characterscan utilize telepresence to perform as crew members without risk of death.
- Death Stranding (2019) - telepresence plays a prominent and important role in communication for the denizens of the game's envisioned future.
Comics
- Lamar Waldron's M.I.C.R.A.: Mind Controlled Remote Automaton (1986-88), related the story of a college female paralyzed by a neck injury, who volunteered to be the remote pilot of an android body created by one of her professors.
- The Surrogates, a 2005–2006 comic book series, inspired the film Surrogates (2009) and explains about a future where humans have a widespread use of mind-controlled androids.
Virtual reality communities
- voice chat with 3D avatars.
See also
- Avatar (computing)
- Brain–computer interface
- First-person perspective
- Telecollaboration
- Telerobotics
- Unotchit
- Virtual fixture
- Virtual reality
References
- ^ S.Tachi, K.Tanie and K.Komoriya: Evaluation device of mobility aids for the blind, Japanese Patent 1462696 filed on December 26, 1980.
- ^ S.Tachi, K.Tanie and K.Komoriya: Operation method of manipulators with sensoryinformation display functions, Japanese Patent 1458263 filed on January 14, 1981.
- ^ S.Tachi and M.Abe: Study on Telexistence (I) -Desigan of Visual Display-, Proceedings of the 21st SICE Annual Conference, pp.167-168, Tokyo, July 28–30, 1982.
- ^ S. Tachi, K. Tanie, K. Komoriya and M. Kaneko, Tele-existence (I): Design and Evaluation of a Visual Display with Sensation of Presence, RoManSy 84 The Fifth CISM-IFToMM Symposium. 1984: 206–215.
- ^ a b Marvin Minsky (June 1980). "Telepresence". Omni.
- ISSN 0277-786X.
- ^ L. B. Rosenberg. The Use of Virtual Fixtures As Perceptual Overlays to Enhance Operator Performance in Remote Environments. Technical Report AL-TR-0089, USAF Armstrong Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB OH, 1992.
- ^ Rosenberg, "Virtual Fixtures: Perceptual Overlays Enhance Operator Performance in Telepresence Tasks," Ph.D. Dissertation, Stanford University.
- ^ Human Productivity Lab Whitepaper
- ^ Options, Telepresence (28 April 2018). "Telepresence Options Website". www.telepresenceoptions.com.
- ^ Bushaus, Dawn (March 17, 2008). "Telepresence: Ready For Its Close-Up".
- ^ "Final Report" (PDF). toronto.edu.
- ^ Companies Worldwide Rely on Polycom Video and Telepresence to Cut Carbon Emissions for a Greener Planet Archived 2008-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, CNN June 5, 2008
- ^ Herrell, Elizabeth (March 9, 2010). "Enterprise Communications: The Next Decade". Forrester Research White Paper. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Video Conferencing: A guide to making a Telepresence Business Case Archived 2008-06-28 at the Wayback Machine Matt Walker, 2007
- ^ Barras, Colin (26 November 2009). "'Holographic' Videoconferencing Moves Nearer to Market". New Scientist. p. 23. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ Lehrbaum, Rick (January 11, 2013). "Attack of the Telepresence Robots!". InfoWeek. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ Honig, Zach (March 17, 2014). "iRobot's Ava 500 telepresence-on-a-stick is rolling out now (update: $69,500!!)". Engadget. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ Dataquest Insight: The Telepresence Market in India, 2008 Archived 2013-05-12 at the Wayback Machine, Gartner December 16, 2008
- ^ Telepresence Consulting – Human Productivity Lab Archived 2007-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sanders, Tom (21 June 2006). "Cisco Sets Sail For Teleconferencing". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ISSN 0021-9916.
- ^ M. Nerlich & U. Schächinger (Eds) - Integration of Health Telematics into Medical Practice - IOS Press, 2003
- ^ Westwood et al. (Eds.) - Medicine meets Virtual Reality 12: Studies in Health Technology & Informatics - W. Kahled, S. Reichling, O.T. Bruhns, H. Böse, M. Baumann, S. Egersdörfer, D. Klein, A. Tunayer, H. Freimuth, A. Lorenz, A. Pessavento & H. Ermert - Palpation Imaging using a Haptic System for Virtual Reality applications in Medicine. - pp 147-153, IOS Press, 2004
- ^ "Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Telepresence-Enabled Cognitive Apprenticeship Model of Teacher Professional Development by R. Shawn Edmondson, Ph.D. Archived 2007-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Heyboer, Kelly (10 April 2015). "Why is Rutgers merging its law schools? The deans answer your questions". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ The Weave[permanent dead link], Virtual presence physical beings – from telegraph to telecast – a reflection on virtual beingness Ghislaine Boddington November 2000, commissioned by ResCen, Middlesex University
- ^ "Excited Atoms", Excited Atoms outlines a history of virtual mobility in performance, presents the main types of work with inspiring current examples and traces some of the most critical issues and motivations for artists, cultural producers and promoters to collaborate, share, make, question, present and innovate using virtual mobility.
Further reading
- "Telepresence" (Minsky 1980; Sheridan 1992a; Barfield, Zelter, Sheridan, & Slater 1995; Welch, Blackmon, Liu, Mellers, & Stark 1996)
- "Virtual Presence" (Barfield et al., 1995)
- ISBN 0-262-57223-0
- ISBN 0-472-06810-5
- "Being There" (Reeves 1991; Heeter 1992; Barfield et al., 1995; Zhoa 2003)
- "A perceptual illusion of non-mediation" (Lombard & Ditton 1997)
- "The suspension of disbelief" (Slater & Ushoh 1994)
- Sheridan, Thomas B. (1992), "Telerobotics, Automation, and Human Supervisory Control, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Second edition (2003) ISBN 0-262-51547-4
- unknown title (Sheridan, 1992, 1992; Barfield & Weghorst, 1993; Slater & Usoh, 1994; Barfield, Sheridan, Zeltzer, Slater, 1995)
External links
- Markoff, John (September 4, 2010). "The Boss Is Robotic, and Rolling Up Behind You". The New York Times.