A lot of my research is and will be focused on not just defining presence but distinguishing it from other immersive experiences. Relying on the possibilistic model of consciousness, along with few other scholars, I distinguish at least two types of immersion – sensory (aka presence) and mental (aka narrative engagement) ones. There are multiple differences between them that are listed below:

One of the most vivid ways to demonstrate this difference is to contextualize it within immersive storytelling (see the recent PRESENCE journal paper).

Also, see my research about video games.

Please see the overall framework in the Book Chapter of the (2025). States of Immersion Across Media: Bodies, Techniques, Practices. Amsterdam University Press. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/book.135469.