Virtual reality (VR) technology has come a long way since its inception, but when was the first VR system released? This is a question that has been asked many times, and while there are some conflicting answers, the consensus among historians and experts is that the first commercial VR system was released in 1968.
The first VR system to be commercially released was called the Sword of Damocles, which was developed by Ivan Sutherland. The Sword of Damocles was a head-mounted display (HMD) that tracked the movement of the user’s head and projected a 3D image in front of them. This system allowed users to experience a virtual environment and interact with it using hand-held controllers.
While there were earlier VR systems developed for research purposes, such as the Ivan Sutherland’s Sketchpad (1963) and the Utah Teapot (1975), the Sword of Damocles was the first system to be commercially available to the public. It was originally designed for use in arcades and amusement parks, but it was later adapted for use in educational settings and as a training tool for military personnel.
In conclusion, the first virtual reality system to be released was the Sword of Damocles in 1968. This system laid the foundation for future VR technology and paved the way for the development of modern VR systems that we see today.