How We Got Here! The History of VR

How We Got Here! The History of VR.

We're Sherpa VR, Utah's premier virtual reality rental service! So, as you can imagine, we talk to hundrends of clients every year, and one of the questions we are often asked is about the history of VR. How did this amazing technology come to be? Here's a quick history lesson for those wondering about the timeline of VR development.

Early Steps

The history of VR development is a tale of persistence, innovation, and collaboration across multiple fields. From its humble beginnings in the mid-20th century to the sophisticated systems of today, VR has undergone a remarkable evolution.

The concept of virtual reality can be traced back to the early 1950s when filmmaker Morton Heilig created the Sensorama, a machine that provided immersive experiences through stereoscopic 3D visuals, stereo sound, vibrations, and even smells. Heilig envisioned the Sensorama as a multi-sensory cinema experience, but its bulky size and limited technology meant it never reached widespread adoption.

The 1960s and 1970s saw significant advancements in VR research, primarily driven by academic and military interests. In 1965, Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull developed the "Sword of Damocles," a head-mounted display (HMD) connected to a computer that could overlay simple wireframe graphics onto the user's view. While primitive by today's standards, this marked the birth of modern VR technology.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, VR continued to gain momentum, with notable contributions from companies like Atari and Nintendo. In 1982, Atari released the arcade game "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," featuring a sit-down cabinet with vector graphics that simulated the experience of piloting a snowspeeder. Meanwhile, Nintendo introduced the Virtual Boy in 1995, a tabletop gaming console that promised immersive 3D gameplay. However, due to its monochromatic display and uncomfortable design, the Virtual Boy failed to capture consumer interest and was discontinued after just a few months on the market.

Bringing it to Mass Market

It wasn't until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that VR technology began to mature into a viable consumer product. In 2012, a young company named Oculus VR, founded by Palmer Luckey, launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Oculus Rift, a high-quality VR headset designed specifically for gaming. The campaign was a massive success, raising over $2.4 million and generating significant buzz within the tech industry.

In 2014, Facebook acquired Oculus VR for $2 billion, signaling a major vote of confidence in the future of VR. This acquisition brought substantial resources and expertise to the table, accelerating the development of the Oculus Rift and other VR projects. (A short while ago Meta, Facebook's parent company, rebranded the Oculus Rift as the Meta Quest. That's the model we use! We at Sherpa VR think it's the best on the market.) Soon after, other tech giants like HTC, Sony, and Google entered the VR space with their own headsets, further driving innovation and competition.

The release of consumer-grade VR headsets in 2016 marked a turning point for the industry. The Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR offered high-fidelity experiences at relatively affordable prices, making VR more accessible to mainstream consumers. Developers flocked to the platform, creating thousands of VR games, experiences, and applications across various genres.

The Future of the Tech

Since then, VR technology has continued to advance at a rapid pace, with improvements in display resolution, tracking accuracy, and comfort. Inside-out tracking, which eliminates the need for external sensors, has become standard in many VR headsets, enhancing ease of use and portability. Meanwhile, advancements in haptic feedback and motion tracking have made VR experiences more immersive and interactive than ever before.

In addition to gaming, VR has found applications in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, education, architecture, and entertainment. Medical professionals use VR simulations for training and surgical planning, while educators leverage VR to create immersive learning environments for students. Architects and designers use VR to visualize and iterate on building designs in real-time, while filmmakers experiment with VR storytelling techniques to create immersive cinematic experiences.

Looking ahead, the future of VR appears bright, with continued advancements in technology and growing interest from consumers and businesses alike. As hardware becomes more powerful and affordable, and software becomes more sophisticated, VR is poised to revolutionize how we work, play, and interact with the world around us. Whether it's exploring distant planets, collaborating with colleagues in virtual offices, or experiencing live events from the comfort of our homes, the possibilities of VR are limited only by our imagination. And you can bet Sherpa VR will be there, welcoming each new innovation as we continue to service our clients in Utah and beyond!