The History of Virtual Reality

Are you also curious about the history of Virtual Reality? We are happy to explain it to you! Discover it in this UnboundXR blog!

The history of Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is all around us these days, but have you ever wondered how this technology came to be? The history of Virtual Reality goes back years. In this blog we go back in time to take a look at the origins of VR. Read on and discover more!

The pioneers of the idea

The origins of VR date back to the 1950s and 1960s, when visionaries such as Morton Heilig and Ivan Sutherland laid the foundation of Virtual Reality as we know it today. Morton Heilig created the "Sensorama" during that time period. This was a device that allowed you to watch short films while experiencing smell, wind and vibration. Below you can see a photo of the legendary Sensorama.

At the same time, Ivan Sutherland at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed the very first head-mounted Display (HMD) called "Sword of Damocles," which was enormous and hung from the ceiling. This device is named after the ancient Greek story of Damocles, who hung a sword above his head. This sword was held by a single horsehair, and stood as a metaphor for constant impending danger.

Sutherland's prototype was quite large and impressive. You can see that in the photo below. The prototype consisted of a complex combination of mechanical and electronic components suspended from the ceiling. The user was literally under this heavy structure, making it similar to Damocles' 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, this 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.

The birth of the term 'Virtual Reality'

Although VR technology developed slowly, the term "Virtual Reality" first became popular in the 1980s. This is thanks to Jaron Lanier, a pioneer in the field of computer science. Lanier founded 'VPL Research', a company that developed VR hardware and software. He introduced the term to describe the experience of being completely immersed in virtual worlds.

The breakthrough period in the 1990s

The 1990s brought major breakthroughs for VR with. SEGA launched the SEGA VR headset, but use of the Headset was limited to arcades and arcades. 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.

The Modern Revival

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

VR today

Today, Virtual Reality is no longer limited to science fiction or expensive experiments. Companies such as 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 once unimaginable.