You'll have to clarify the difference. Most people haven't thought their terminology on this front all the way through.

[And by most he means everyone for whom the supernatural isn't an established part of their world. Even House. They're all afraid, of course.]

Do you think anything could be done without going to the locations physically? Most interventions would require direct action. I don't think we've ever tried to communicate with the ghosts via tablet, though... why not.