Archives for “On TV”

24 years ago Apple ran this advertisement predicting a tablet based voice assistant. The futuristic ad takes place in September 2011. With yesterday’s announcement of Siri, they missed their prediction by only one month (out of 24 years.) Wish all my engineering projects achieved such schedule precision! Tweet [Translate] No related posts.


We all know that the 1950′s were the golden age of 3D movies, Hollywood’s attempt to fend off the rapidly growing television audience. Their 3D thrust was short lived, and with a few exceptions, we enjoyed almost 50 years of 2D bliss. This time around 3D is harder to avoid… TV has it too! For [...] Related posts:

  1. 3-Dimensions… For the First Time… 3-D FEELIES!!


Based on a mix of US and Japanese technology, this brief news segment shows a vibrant VR c0mmunity in 1990 Japan. There’s gloves and HMDs from VPL, although the LCD displays inside the helmet are from Sony Japan. There’s also a nice augmented reality helmet (built on an actual construction helmet), and a force/tactile feedback [...] Related posts:

  1. Mnemonic’s MRG2.2 Upgrade – Augmented Reality + Kinect
  2. Back In The USSR
  3. And I’m Never Going Back To My Old School


Trust the folks at G4 to bring us the real scoop on state-of-the-art VR from the inventors of the assembly line, Ford Motor Company. G4′s reportage AND Ford’s VR applications are both impressive; both the MSM and GM/Chrysler have something to learn here. G4 traditionally (is that an oxymoron??) sticks with the latest video games [...] No related posts.


First there was Virtual Reality Hair Replacement for Men: Now there’s Air Hair, training to master the art of the cut: Tweet [Translate] Related posts:

  1. Beware the funny hair… its a tech cult giveaway
  2. 10 Reasons Why Virtual Reality Did Not Become a Standard


Well we all saw how the VR hype slowly faded out in the late 90s – so how can i put up such a title? Some people might have noticed the recent boom of 3D related stuff. It somehow started last year, suddenly the buried technology was quickly excavated and sold as the most brilliant [...] Related posts:

  1. 10 Reasons Why Virtual Reality Did Not Become a Standard
  2. Psychedelics and the Creation of Virtual Reality


This final segment from AT&T’s 1993 Vision of the Future isn’t too far from what’s happenin’ here in 2010, but 17 years later, AT&T is still not a player. Part1 and Part2 are almost as much fun. Tweet [Translate] Related posts:

  1. Display Mounted Head? – Kimera
  2. Arcade “Player Retainer” – HeadGames VR2000
  3. Virtual Boy – Another Perspective…


The media drops in on Siggraph ’92 in Chicago: Definitely a show that I outsmarted myself on. Had an exhibitor’s badge from a friend (thanks Marilyn!), and while touring the exhibits before opening I found a booth where the exhibitor had bailed… it was empty. Grabbed my PhotoVR computer gear and Flight Helmet out of [...] Related posts:

  1. Myron Kruger Takes a Spin in the Flight Helmet
  2. Nothing New Under the Sun!
  3. Siggraph ’95 – Upon Further Observation


The ill fated GamePro TV did a 1991 “Cutting Edge” feature on the original Virtuality arcade systems, including footage from their premier multi-player Dactyl Nightmare title. Be careful not to fry your eyeballs on host J.D. Roth’s outfit; did anyone actually dress like this? Roth incorrectly attributes the system to Spectrum Holobyte, who was for [...] Related posts:

  1. Aftershock and a Fashion Emergency
  2. All Brawn – Virtuality 1000CS HMD
  3. The Games That Would Be King


On it’s way to the Whistlestop, this VR system (1 of 10 on tour) makes a stop at Louisville’s channel 32 early, early morning show. Perfect makeup notwithstanding, I don’t think the host was thinking that anything below the belt would be on camera. She wore the wrong skirt, for sure. These VR systems were [...] Related posts:

  1. Yet Another Fashion Emergency – J D Roth Talks Virtuality on GamePro TV


Simulator Sickness and the lingering effects of Virtual Reality, drunken behavior in particular, are the subject of this Brian Williams NBC special from 1996. Brian’s teaser: “When they were first unveiled, the science of it all was staggering, but now there’s some evidence it’s having a staggering effect… on some who use it…” A typical [...] Related posts:

  1. Urinated in His Pants?
  2. AT&T Shows Us Somebody Else’s Future


You know the wave has crested when Regis and Kathie Lee make your specialty an early morning featurette. Reeg hams it up beautifully. If it hadn’t been for that 3:30am load in, it might have been perfect. Dave Polinchock provides expert narration. Quick glimpse of an SGI Indigo on the left, and the Virtual Research [...] Related posts:

  1. Myron Kruger Takes a Spin in the Flight Helmet
  2. Warning Will Robinson, Warning!
  3. Nothing New Under the Sun!


1994 brought a fully packaged consumer head mount, the Forte-VFX-1 Brochure. Stereoscopic and with head tracking included, it somehow found it’s way into the hands of psychologist Les Posen who employed this device to treat patients with various phobias. The video below demonstrates treatment for Aviophobia, the fear of flying (not the zipless-f**k!) I take [...] Related posts:

  1. Retrospective photo review of Forte VFX1 Virtual Reality system


Proving that VR doesn’t automatically lead to hurling the intrepid subject of this 1995 video wolfs down a cornucopia of fast food and hops on some VR games at Toronto’s CN Tower. The manager of the arcade facility prevaricates a bit, telling us that while he’s never seen chunks, peeing one’s pants is an actual [...] Related posts:

  1. Meet My Friend “Ralph”
  2. Number 5 in PC World’s “Ugliest Products in Tech History” – VIRTUAL BOY
  3. Back In The Day – Japan 1990


We knew it was in the development stage, but did the Computer Chronicles have to remind any potential customers. That’s OK because the conference’s resident AI expert (didn’t AI bubble and burst in the 80′s) tells us: “… the resolution is low, the headgear is uncomfortable, but what’s exciting is … the promise of the [...] Related posts:

  1. Siggraph ’92 Wrap
  2. Myron Kruger Takes a Spin in the Flight Helmet
  3. 1995 Virtual IO I-Glasses