Introduction à la téléprésence
The notion of teleprésence
When an user surfs on the Internet, he perceive two distinct spaces at the same time : the virtual place that is presented and generated through the computer and the physical space in which he is localited
- Presence : « the natural perception of an environment » (Steuer 1992)
- Télépresence : « the mediated perception of an environment » (Steuer 1992) 
The degree of telepresence defined as « the extent a person perceives that he or she is « physically present in the computer-mediated environment » (Schloerb, 1995), is determined by the configuartaion of the technology that allows the users to interact with their environment
- An user physically located in his living room can feel a sense of beeing present in a virtual storefront where he browses and shops as in an real strore
- It is a world generated by computers in which time and space have no real meaning (Tambyah, 1996)
The dimensions of cyber technology that affect the degree of telepresence on experience
Interactivity : « Interactivity is the extent to which users can participate in modifying the form and content of a mediated environment in real time » (Steuer, 1992)
Although the users cannot modify the contents of the Web pages which they reach, they have the possibility to modify the order of the presentation by selecting the links. They thus have the ability to dress certain aspects of the contents, being made themselves the authors of the contents : they determine alone the content they see
>The ability of the user to control the medium
- Speed : « the rate at which input can be assimilated into mediated environment » : The speed of the interaction must approach instantaneity to substitute or amplify perception of the world in real time
- Range : « the number of possibilities for action at any given time »
>Temporal ordering : Tv vs computer-based animation system
>Spatial organization : where objects appear
>Intensity : loudness of sounds, brightness of images, intensity of smells
>Frequency charactéristics : timbre, color
- Mapping : « the way in which human actions are connected to actions within a mediated environment »
> Completely arbitrary and unrelated to the function performed
> Completely natural to the function performed
Vividness : « The representational richness of a mediated environment as defined by its formal features ; that is the way in which an environment presents information to the senses » (Steuer, 1992)
In any environment we are operating in, we perceive environmental cues with all our senses. The cyber technology can reproduce these sensory data, to make feel the user present in the computer generated environment, to give him the illusion of beeing there
- Sensory breadth : « refers to the number of sensory dimensions simultaneously presented » : Capture the senses to bring consumers realistic environments that mimic real life. Cybertechnologie captures two senses (visual + aural)
- Sensory depth : « refers to the resolution within each of these perceptual channels » : The quality and the amount of information embedded (photo vs draw)
Conséquences of telepresence (Shih, 1998)
- Immersion in the virtual environment
Turkle (1984) indicated that telepresence suggests play, exploration and immersion in the virtual space
Biocca and Delaney (1995) : « Immersion is a term that refers to the degree to which the virtual environment submerges the perceptual system of the user in computer-generated stimuli, captivating the senses and blocking out stimuli from the physical world »
- More time spent in the virtual environment
- Positive affective feelings
- Higher probability of repeat visits
The FLOW construct and the Internet
Novak and Hoffman pioneering work in the experience in online environments has conceptualized flow on the Web as a cognitive state experienced during navigation that is detrmined by :
- High level of skill and control
- High levels of challenge and arousal
- Telepresence/Time distorsion
- Interactive speed
Delphine Baillergeau
