Virtual Reality Brief Evolution

So as I have had a small change of direction and now I am looking into immersion within virtual reality, I have been looking at the evolution of this and seeing were did it all start. As we all know virtual reality is normally created using goggles that have a screen for each eye and the creates the sensation of being in a 3d world that is around us everywhere.

Virtual reality has been around since after the first emissions of the colour television, this was when the first machines and helmets started to come around. In 1956 Morton Heilig invented the first virtual reality machinese called Sensoramaand it had full 3D video, audio vibrations and odours. 

In 1961, Corme and Byen built the first helmet called HeadSight. This had a CRT screen and used a tracking system so it knew the direction of your head. This was also being developed for military applications. The idea was to be able to control something remotely. 

1966 Tom Furness created the first flight simulator. 

1968 Sutherland and Bob Sproul created another helmet but this had augmented reality also. This was called Damocles Sword. It was very heavy and unrealistic as it only generated a 3D wire.

Through the 70s and 80s better graphics were being tested and developed but the computers didn't have sufficient performances to generate it. 

In the 90s virtual reality took a turn and Antonio Medina designed a virtual reality system to drive robots on Mars from Earth. As this was in real time, there were delays in between the signals sent. 

As you can see from above, Virtual reality today can be used for a lot of things such as controlling robotic arms, video games, for simulators and so on. Virtual reality has poised to change the way we interact and become immersed in non physical worlds. Virtual reality will still grow and develop and as this happens it will become more better, cheaper and accessible.