Editing Telepresence (section)

=== 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 [[film|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 [[Stereoscopic|small displays]] mounted directly in front of the eyes. The latter provides a particularly convincing [[Three-dimensional space|3D]] sensation. The movements of the user's head must be sensed, and the [[camera]] must mimic those movements accurately and in real time. This is important to prevent unintended motion sickness.

Another source of future improvement to telepresence displays, compared by some to [[hologram]]s, is a projected [[Electronic visual display|display technology]] featuring life-sized imagery.<ref name="NS-20091221">{{cite news
  | url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18169-holographic-videoconferencing-moves-nearer-to-market.html
  | title='Holographic' Videoconferencing Moves Nearer to Market
  | last=Barras
  | first=Colin
  | date=26 November 2009
  | work=New Scientist
  | pages=23
  | access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>

Sound is generally the easiest sensation to implement with high [[fidelity]],  based on the foundational [[telephone]] technology dating back more than 130 years. Very high-fidelity sound equipment has also been available for a considerable period of time, with [[Stereo|stereophonic sound]] being more convincing than [[monaural]] sound.

==== Manipulation ====
[[File:Anybots robot monty.jpg|thumb|right|Monty, a telemanipulation prototype from [[Anybots]]]]

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 [[wired glove]]s, [[Inertial Measurement Unit|inertial sensors]], or absolute spatial position sensors. A [[robot]] in the remote location then copies those movements as closely as possible. This ability is also known as [[teleoperation]].

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 [[Shadow Hand|fully anthropomorphic robot hands]].

[[Haptic communication|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 ====
[[File:IRobot Ava 500.jpg|thumb|iRobot Ava 500, an autonomous roaming telepresence robot]]

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 [http://www.avarobotics.com Ava Robotics], Anybots, Vgo, TeleMe by Mantarobot, and Romo by Romotive.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Lehrbaum |work=InfoWeek |url=http://www.informationweek.com/applications/attack-of-the-telepresence-robots!/d/d-id/1108137 |title=Attack of the Telepresence Robots! |date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref>

More modern roaming telepresence robots may include an ability to operate [[Autonomous robot|autonomously]]. The robots can map out the space and be able to avoid obstacles while driving themselves between rooms and their docking stations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Honig|first1=Zach|title=iRobot's Ava 500 telepresence-on-a-stick is rolling out now (update: $69,500!!)|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/03/17/irobot-ava-500/ |date=March 17, 2014 |work=Engadget|access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref>