The Origins of Virtual and Augmented Reality Infographic

Vr

Origins of Virtual and Augmented Reality

The hype over virtual and augmented reality technologies is real, brought on by seemingly daily exponential developments. But though the excitement seems fresh and new, the ideas behind VR are as old as technology itself. Today, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are among the most popular VR headset devices, made possible only from a century’s worth of trial and error.

By 2020, one-third of global consumers are expected to be using VR; not surprising when we remember exactly how long this kind of technology has been in development. One of the first and simplest iterations of what we could call a VR device was invented in 1838 by English scientist Charles Wheatstone. Relying on optical illusions, this headset was remarkably similar to modern designs and allowed the user to view a virtual 3D image as a result of two different images visible only to each eye. Thomas Edison followed up 53 years later with his (1891) Kinetoscope which made use of electric light bulbs, pieces of film, and a lone peephole displaying images at an impressive 46 FPS.

Development of such devices continued well into the 20th century but it was only around the 1950s that the technology began catching up to the concepts. Eventually the goals for virtual reality began including full body experiences, and started including industries that weren’t necessarily focused on VR as an entertainment source. Flight simulators cropped up almost as soon as airplanes themselves were invented, intended to train new pilots in what to expect before even becoming airborne. Devices for use in the Army and Air Force were developed in an effort to train individuals, as well as to monitor dangerous situations, like the 1961 motion-tracking HMD Headsight developed by Philco Corporation engineers for the military.

AR and VR development have come a long way and its innovation shows no signs of slowing down now. Take a look at this infographic (Infographic source: HistoryDegree.net and Nowsourcingfor more on the history of VR tech, precursor devices to those we know and love today, and how inventions of the past will influence those of the future.

Origins of Virtual and Augmented Reality

By Maggie Kimberl

Bailey Smith
Intelligent Deals: The Role of AI in M&A It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many industries with its fast capabilities and predictive nature. From writing code to drafting documents, AI has become ...
David Cantor
These are monumental topics that command volumes of diligent research, backed by empirical evidence and citations from subject-matter experts. Yet, I’m afraid we don’t have the time for this. In 2022, I had a video ...
Gary Bernstein
AI-powered identity verification Even if you don’t want to admit it, doing business online in today’s environment poses a greater risk. Criminals are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities to exploit, including hacking, data breaches, ...
Alex Dean
Enabling Privacy and Personalization Most businesses today rely on data collected online to better understand their customers and deliver more personalized products, services and experiences. These insights can be transformative for an organization, especially when ...
Ray Meiring
Fueled by extensive demand in IT, healthcare, financial services, and telecommunication—initially spurred by the pandemic-driven frenzy to transition to remote working—managed service providers (MSPs) are busier than ever. As businesses adopt MSP services to upgrade, ...
Nikolaos Nikou
The Future of Enrollment Systems Enrollment systems play a crucial role in various industries, from higher education institutions to online courses and professional certifications. These systems streamline the enrollment process, manage student data, and contribute ...