Virtual reality (VR) technology has been around for several decades. The first known VR system was created in 1962 by Ivan Sutherland, a computer scientist at MIT. His invention, called the Sketchpad, used a head-mounted display to create an immersive 3D environment that could be explored with the user’s hands.
However, it wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that VR technology became more accessible to consumers. In 1987, a company called Sega introduced the Master System, a home video game console that included a built-in VR headset.
The first commercial VR headset, the Cygnus Virtual Reality Headset, was also released in 1989.
Despite these early successes, the development of VR technology slowed down in the 1990s due to technical limitations and high costs. However, by the late 1990s, advancements in graphics and processing power made it possible to create more immersive and realistic VR experiences.
In 2000, a company called VR Magic launched the first consumer-ready VR system, called the Nexus. The Nexus used a head-mounted display and motion tracking to provide a fully immersive experience. However, it was expensive and had limited content.
In 2010, Oculus VR released the Oculus Rift, which quickly became one of the most popular VR systems on the market. The Rift used a head-mounted display and motion tracking to provide a more immersive experience than previous VR systems. It also had a larger library of games and applications.
Since then, virtual reality technology has continued to advance rapidly. Today, there are many different VR systems available, with varying levels of immersion, hardware requirements, and content libraries. Some popular VR systems include the Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR.
In conclusion, virtual reality technology was first created in 1962 by Ivan Sutherland at MIT. However, it wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s that VR technology became more accessible to consumers. Since then, advancements in graphics and processing power have made it possible to create increasingly immersive and realistic VR experiences. Today, there are many different VR systems available, with varying levels of immersion and content libraries.