Winner of the Expo Innovation Award! "temi" makes children's dreams come true - New possibilities for remote experiences at "Anywhere Expo"
Utilizing the telerobot "temi" provided by iPresence, children who have difficulty going outside were able to experience the Expo remotely through "temi." This also enabled cross-border cultural exchange between Japan and Italy, and was praised as an innovative initiative.
iPresence Inc. (Head office: Higashinada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; CEO: Christopher Chris Francis; hereinafter "iPresence"), a company that designs next-generation communication, is participating in the "Special Kids Future Concept Challenge Consortium" initiative "Anywhere Expo."First held"1st EXPO INNOVATION AWARD'At"Expo Innovation Award in Social Innovation” was awarded.
The award was established by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Aichi Expo.とThe award was co-hosted by the Global Industrial and Social Sciences Research Institute (GISPRI). Unlike the BIE Awards system, which is open to pavilions from countries officially participating in the Expo, this award was newly established to recognize outstanding and innovative ideas for the Expo. This project, in which children who are unable to go outside due to illness or disability used the telepresence avatar robot "temi" (hereafter "telerobot") to remotely experience the Osaka-Kansai Expo, was recognized for providing an opportunity for diverse people to participate in the Expo, leading to this award. This initiative connected the Expo site not only with medical institutions in Japan but also with those in Italy, realizing cultural exchange across borders.
What is "Anywhere Expo"?
iPresence is participating in the "Anywhere Expo" project, which uses telerobots to enable children (special kids) who have difficulty going outside due to illness or disabilities to remotely experience the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
The project, which took place over 42 sessions from April to August 2025, was planned and run by the Special Kids Future Concept Challenge Consortium, a group of companies that shared the vision of a pediatric neurologist. Approximately 4,000 children participated, with the main goal of providing them with the "right to adventure" by using the power of technology to create opportunities for them to experience different worlds and possibilities.
By remotely controlling the telerobot "temi" installed in the Ishiguro Hiroshi Signature Pavilion "The Future of Life" at the Italian Pavilion at the Expo, children were able to view the exhibits through temi's camera footage (temi view) as if they were actually walking around the pavilion.
You can watch the introductory video for "Anywhere Expo" here.
In addition to remote control of temi, we utilized cutting-edge technologies such as stable live communication using local 5G and 360-degree video (at the Jellyfish House and Large Roof Ring in the Playground of Life), providing a truly immersive experience. Furthermore, through a variety of interactions, such as a facilitator who livened up the event, greetings in Italian with Italian staff, and live interactions with local participants, we were able to create a special and memorable experience for the children, even from a distance.
This initiative is not just a remote tour; it aims to help children gain experience that "if you try, you can achieve anything" and foster hope for the future.
The achievements and evaluation of the telerobot "temi"
The telerobot "temi" provided by iPresence was the driving force behind the realization of this "Anywhere Expo."
Temi's intuitive operability and high performance that enables smooth remote communication allowed children to explore the Expo site as if they were walking around on foot, and to engage in real-time cultural exchange with local visitors. It was a memorable experience for the children, who saw the faces of children at medical facilities displayed on Temi's screen at the site and took commemorative photos with local people.
This award demonstrates once again the potential for the remote teleportation* experience made possible by temi to contribute to solving social issues. iPresence will continue to contribute to the realization of a society where more people can connect beyond physical constraints and enjoy richer experiences through technologies such as temi.
*Teleportation
At iPresence, we define "teleportation" as the use of tools such as telerobots to enable people to interact with and experience a location in real time, as if they were teleported there from a remote location.
About iPresence Inc.
iPresence Co., Ltd.With the theme of "as if you were there," we develop and provide telepresence avatar robots (telerobots), AI agents, digital twins, and other technologies that enable people in remote locations to communicate with each other with a greater sense of presence and realism. We define this unique worldview as a pseudo-teleportation, and aim to maximize the potential of remote communication and create new ways of working and living.
We are involved in various ways with the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo as a technology that will shape the society of the future. In addition to exhibiting at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, we are also providing "temi," a solution that allows children who cannot attend the Expo to experience the Expo remotely, through our "Anywhere Expo" initiative.
- iPresence official website:https://ipresence.jp/
- Anywhere Expo official website:https://www.docodemo-expo.org/
