Telepresences

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Experiences of feeling physically present in a distant place through remote robotic devices or immersive virtual systems
2. Sensations of being located at a faraway site, created by machines or simulated environments that transmit sight and sound
3. Instances of perceived presence at a remote location, enabled by cameras, sensors and display technology operated from afar

Etymology: "Telepresences" is simply the plural of "telepresence," so its history is that of the base word. That base is formed from "tele-," from Greek "tēle," meaning "far off" or "at a distance," joined to "presence," which descends from Latin "praesentia," the state of being present or at hand. Put together, the word describes being present at a distance, which is exactly what the technology it names allows: a person experiencing another location through remote sensing and communication. The plural simply refers to more than one such experience or system.