Telepresence Beyond Distance

What if you could truly feel present in a place hundreds of kilometers away?

This project explores a new form of immersive telepresence that combines virtual reality, full-body locomotion, and multisensory stimulation to recreate the sensation of physically inhabiting a distant environment. Using a Kat VR omnidirectional treadmill, participants can naturally walk through virtual spaces while their movements are synchronized with remote or reconstructed locations. Beyond visual immersion, the system incorporates haptic feedback, environmental effects, and sensory augmentation to reproduce subtle elements of presence that traditional telecommunication cannot convey. In this demonstrator, users are invited to experience remote environments not as passive observers but as embodied participants. As they move through the virtual landscape, tactile sensations, airflow, vibrations, and even olfactory cues contribute to a richer perception of place. The objective is not simply to see another location, but to restore the complex sensory signals that help the brain construct a feeling of being there. Through this approach, telepresence evolves from visual communication into a fully embodied experience. Inspired in part by research projects such as DoppelMarsh at Tidmarsh, which explores digital twins of ecological environments and new forms of remote environmental engagement, this work investigates how emerging technologies can bridge physical distance while preserving emotional and sensory connection. Beyond applications in education, environmental exploration, cultural heritage, and remote collaboration, the project raises broader questions about the future of presence itself. As virtual and physical realities become increasingly intertwined, it invites us to reconsider what it means to inhabit a place, experience a landscape, and connect with environments that exist beyond our immediate reach.