The History of Virtual Reality

Are you curious about the history of Virtual Reality? We'd love to explain it to you! Discover it in this blog from UnboundXR!

Virtual Reality (VR) is everywhere around us today, but have you ever wondered how this technology originated? The history of Virtual Reality goes back years. In this blog, we're going to go back in time to take a look at the origin of VR. Read on and discover more!

The origin of VR dates back to the 50s and 60s, when visionaries like Morton Heilig and Ivan Sutherland laid the foundation of Virtual Reality as we know it today. During that period, Morton Heilig created the "Sensorama." This was a device that allowed you to watch short films while experiencing smell, wind, and vibrations. Below is a photo of the legendary Sensorama.

During the same time, Ivan Sutherland developed the very first head-mounted display (HMD) called "Sword of Damocles" at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It was enormous and hung from the ceiling. This device is named after the ancient Greek story of Damocles, who had a sword hanging above his head. This sword was held by a single horsehair, symbolizing a constant threat of danger.

Sutherland's prototype was quite large and impressive, as you can see in the photo below. The prototype consisted of a complex combination of mechanical and electronic components that hung from the ceiling. The user was literally under this heavy construction, reminiscent of Damocles's situation, hence the name "Sword of Damocles."

What made this device so special was the fact that for the first time, an image could be projected directly onto the user's retina. Of course, the image did not have the same quality as it does today. The image was even black and white, but it was a huge step forward in the development of VR technology.

Although VR technology was gradually developing, the term "Virtual Reality" first became popular in the 80s. This was thanks to Jaron Lanier, a pioneer in computer science. Lanier founded ‘VPL Research’, a company that developed VR hardware and software. He introduced the term to describe the experience of full immersion in virtual worlds.

The 90s brought significant breakthroughs for VR. SEGA launched the SEGA VR headset, but the use of the headset remained limited to arcades and gaming halls. One of the most notable developments was Nintendo's "Virtual Boy." Although this Virtual Boy was not commercially successful, interest in VR continued to grow.

In the 21st century, VR technology made a comeback. A turning point was the establishment of the Oculus Rift by Palmer Luckey in 2012. Oculus Rift rallied crowdfunding communities and put VR back in the spotlight. In 2014, the company was acquired by Facebook. This brought Virtual Reality back into the limelight.

Today, Virtual Reality is no longer limited to science fiction or expensive experiments. Companies like Oculus (now Meta), HTC, and Sony have launched consumer-oriented headsets, making VR accessible to millions of people worldwide. Whether you want to explore the wonders of deep space, create virtual art, or dive into breathtaking games, VR offers a range of experiences that were once unthinkable.