Perhaps I explained it poorly..
Basically, they take manual control over some spy device (Camera swarm/flying probe/etc) and then use their virtual reality tech to see/detect whatever the device does, allowing them to almost
be in the place the device is.
They could use this tech to hack someone's senses, but they would have to stick their helmet on them...
“She'd become a governess. It was one of the few jobs a known lady could do. And she'd taken to it well. She'd sworn that if she did indeed ever find herself dancing on rooftops with chimney sweeps she'd beat herself to death with her own umbrella.”
― Hogfather