VPL Research

VPL Research was one of the first companies in history that developed and sold virtual reality products. It was founded by VR pioneer Jaron Lanier in 1984. Supposedly, VPL started in the corner of Lanier's cottage in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1]

Products

The Data Glove - this device originally started as an input system for computers. It was later used for virtual reality systems. Thomas Zimmerman invented the prototype of the Data Glove and began looking for other people to help work on it. The device was using 6502 microcontrollers. Zimmerman met Mitch Altman and asked him to join VPL part-time because Altman knew how to program the microcontrollers. [2]

The system was wired to a computer. It was interactive and contained fiber-optic bundles to track movements and orientation. That data would then be transmitted to the computer so that the information could be duplicated virtually. It allowed for people to manipulate and re-orient virtual objects. Applications for this wearable device centered around input computer control, gaming, and also the potential for remote surgery.

The EyePhone - this was a head mounted display (HMD) that was meant to immerse users into a computer simulation. It could track head movements. The headset used Fresnel lenses.[3]

Team Members

Core Team

Jaron Lanier

Mitch Altman

Thomas Zimmerman

Jean-Jacques Grimaud - Co-founder, President, VP of Engineering[4]

Chuck Blanchard

Young Harvill - In his spare time, Harvill created a program called Swivel 3D which was used for creating computer art. It gave the users the ability to generate virtual worlds on a Macintosh computer. He licensed that software to VPL. Shortly after, Harvill joined VPL as their fourth employee in 1985. During his time there, he worked on a project called "Reality Built for Two (RB2)" which was the first VR system at that time. He also helped with the Data Glove as well. [5]

David Levitt

Associated People

Timothy Leary - when Leary got out of jail, he was interested in finding legal ways to explore consciousness which led him to working with individuals at VPL. [6]

References

  1. ↑ "VPL Research". vrs.org.uk.
  2. ↑ Altman, Mitch. An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's). Terndrup, Matthew.
  3. ↑ Delaney, Ben. Sex, Drugs and Tessellation: The Truth About Virtual Reality, as Revealed in the Pages of CyberEdge Journal. p. 274. ISBN 978-1500893293.
  4. ↑ "Jean-Jacques Linkedin Profile Page".
  5. ↑ "Techie Entrepreneurs – Young Harvill". Evergreen Magazine.
  6. ↑ Altman, Mitch. An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's). Terndrup, Matthew.