But all magic aside, it might actually be quite simple. With the inventions of phones, radio, video, Skype calls and FaceTime ,we already have first level sensations from distant location with audial and visual feedback. Skyping with someone is basically a loophole to a second location, without you having to go anywhere. Maybe we could expand on that? But first, let’s settle on what it means to actually be somewhere. We could of course go deep into a philosophical discussion of this, but, for simplicity’s sake, let’s simply start by agreeing that your ability to get sensory inputs from your physical surroundings is a necessary condition for you to register yourself as being in these surrounds; at this location.

Then, I would argue, another defining factor is the theoretical option for you to be somewhere else. You can simply move. And then you will no longer be where you just were. But somewhere else. You can wander off, leave the place, and you can come back. That is the concept of free agency; You ability to move.

And, now I’m getting to the point. If you have a sensation of your surroundings and the ability to move, then you can actually say that you are somewhere.

And, this is where it gets easy. If we take the ability of receiving audial and visual input from another location, from your phone. Via a Skype call or some variant of FaceTime. And we add a simple abilities to move forward, up and down, and change direction, like you get with a remote controllable light quadcopter drone. Then we would achieve the basic effect of being in two places at the same time.

By simply hooking up a phone with a drone, you would be able to fly around as you please, with full on free agency, and with sensory feedback.

Just watching and listening in on what happens around you is of course not fun for too long. And it hardly constitutes any illusion for people around you, that you are actually there. This is the reason why the Skype-call or FaceTime variant is an important element. With a video stream of your face, and the audial expression of your voice through the phone’s loud speaker, you will be able to join and interact with people you meet. You will be able to join the activities and talk with them. You will hear and see everything around them, just like they hear and see it. And you will be able to leave and come back as you please.