Being there. Tele-immersion could profoundly alter long-distance communication, allowing a new kind of intermingled presence of people geographically separated. Despite Jaron Lanier’s current skepticism about cybertechnological advances, a recent experiment was the culmination of a three-year National Tele-Immersion Initiative project he directed. It seems a natural next extension of his pioneering work in VR. Plans include building in haptics — touch simulation — to allow a fuller simulation of tele-presence at a distance. Consider, first, the demand for bandwidth expansion this would stimulate if realized. And some of the novel uses to which it might be put.

The fast-food

chain McDonalds showed interest at one early workshop… McDonalds envisioned fitting tele-immersion booths in

its restaurants so people away from home could have dinner

with their family. “The technology for that is not that far off”… The gaming industry is another potential user.

Players could tele-immerse themselves in a virtual reality

environment, chasing monsters or firing phasers at each other.

[And then there’s another, even more obvious, use about which many will likely soon be, if not already, salivating…] New Scientist