What is Telepresence and Why Does Your Company Need It?

Telepresence is basically a group of technologies that allows someone to interact with someone else almost as if they were in the room with them even if they are on the other side of the world. This means that the technologies of telepresence allow the users to experience the communication with their senses in much the same way if they were standing in front of them.

As well, users of telepresence can manipulate the technologies to affect the communication they send and receive to the remote location. These technologies allow the flow of information to travel back and forth in both directions. The telepresence technologies are especially popular and useful in the area of videoconferencing used extensively in large corporations that have contacts and employees all over the world. Much of this technology is via video and creates very sharp images and clear sound for excellent communications.

Another wonderful advancement of these technologies comes in the form of mobile collaboration. Smart phones have moved in and taken over so that what was started in the office can continue on the road. The power and convenience of telepresence technologies is unparalleled and considered a necessity by many mega companies.

There are substantial benefits to using these technologies besides just being able to communicate clearly via remote locations. The bottom line is money. When it comes to large companies in particular, they can get more done in less time via telepresence technologies. The companies can reduce the amount of travel spending, create less environmental impact, improve their employees' lives in general by cutting down on absences from home and ultimately improve employee productivity.

Instead of traveling long distances for a face-to-face meeting, personnel can now use a telepresence system, which brings each member of the meeting into the telepresence “room.” Everyone can see and hear everyone speak to every one else in the meeting. Of course, this saves enormous amounts of time and money for the company and its staff members.

Telepresence conferencing is far superior to phone conferencing and the visual abilities greatly enhance the communications between the members. Human beings perceive communication by many cues that go well beyond verbal. Body language and facial expressions are a critical part of that communication.

The use of mobile collaboration of telepresence systems is no less impressive or valuable to a company. The mobile system combines the use of video, audio and other advanced capabilities so that an employee can use their smart phone or other hand-held device and participate in a multi-party conference in real time. This is another cost effective way for companies to keep their people informed and up to date. It also allows their staff to solve problems more quickly, prevent downtime, increase productivity and improve customer service.

The telepresence technologies are extremely versatile and many types of industries are using it as well as businesses large and small. So, if someone asks you “What is telepresence” you can tell them it's a set of revolutionary technologies that has an endless stream of possibilities!