Archives for “1993”

Is VR the New Wasteland? (from 1993….)

VR today is like early TV: it suffers from the split personality of most start-up high-tech industries. At the one end is the top of the line research, carried out by institutions with no mandate to sell anything. At the other end, we have new hardware and software products whose developers are only too happy [...] Related posts:

  1. The Games That Would Be King
  2. CAVE® – A Virtual Reality Theater – 1993
  3. VRASP, Pix-Elation, and Phlogiston

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 9:16 am.

Filed under 1993, HMD, Hype, Pix-Elation.

The Games That Would Be King

From 1991 to 1996 W Industries Virtuality systems defined the image of VR in the location based entertainment arena. Here in the US, Horizon Entertainment was their sole distributor. W Industries was remarkably innovative with their use of technology, but their “innovations” in finances were not so successful. Arcade operators had a difficult time breaking [...] Related posts:

  1. Yet Another Fashion Emergency – J D Roth Talks Virtuality on GamePro TV
  2. W Industries – In the Beginning…
  3. All Brawn – Virtuality 1000CS HMD

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 10:05 am.

Filed under 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, Amiga, Horizon Entertainment, Hype, Location Based Entertainment, Virtuality, W Industries.

AT&T Shows Us Somebody Else’s Future

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. [Translate] Related posts:

  1. The City and the Stars – VR a Billion Years From Now!
  2. Regis Takes a Spin
  3. Liquid Image MRG2.2 Disassembly and Potential Upgrades

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 6:14 pm.

Filed under 1993, AT&T, Helmet, HMD, TV.

CAVE® – A Virtual Reality Theater – 1993

In 1991, EVL produced its first CAVE® (CAVE Automatic Virtual Environment) prototype, a two screen stereo projection system with single-user tracking and navigation. In late 1991 – early 1992, a 4 screen (3 walls/floor) CAVE® system – now including surround-sound – was completed and premiered at the annual SIGGRAPH Conference. This video provides an overview [...] Related posts:

  1. So Serious – 1980′s Virtual Reality from NASA
  2. 10 Reasons Why Virtual Reality Did Not Become a Standard
  3. Is VR the New Wasteland? (from 1993….)

5 Comments. Posted by Tone on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 2:08 pm.

Filed under 1993, CAVE®, Reality, Theater, Virtual.

Liquid Image MRG2.2 Disassembly and Potential Upgrades

I’ve gotten a ton of emails hurled at me about the Liquid Image MRG2.2 VR helmet. The gist of most of them is: “Hey, I love the wide field of view and how rugged the MRG2.2 is, but I wish I could upgrade the LCD resolution, and, is there a way to make this HMD [...] Related posts:

  1. 6 lbs. 12 oz. – It’s a Baby Headmount! – Liquid Image MRG2
  2. Tearing Out the Guts of a Virtual Research VR-4 Helmet
  3. Nothing New Under the Sun!

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 5:22 pm.

Filed under 1993, Helmet, HMD, Liquid Image, MRG2, MRG2.2, MRGTeardown.

Regis Takes a Spin

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!

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 4:54 pm.

Filed under 1993, Flight Helmet, Helmet, HMD, Motion Platform, Orbotron, Polinchock, Regis and Kathie Lee, Regis Philbin, Virtual Research.

6 lbs. 12 oz. – It’s a Baby Headmount! – Liquid Image MRG2

The product slick offers a virtually indestructible carry case. I’m not completely sure why, as the Liquid Image MRG2 helmet shell, constructed of multi-layer fiberglass, was non-virtually (i.e. real-world) indestructible. The MRG2 was actually quite clever, inasmuch as it could be manufactured with about $200 of tools. No fancy injection molds or custom optics. Although [...] Related posts:

  1. Liquid Image MRG2.2 Disassembly and Potential Upgrades
  2. Tearing Out the Guts of a Virtual Research VR-4 Helmet
  3. Narrow Field of View is Good… – CyberEye 100

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 7:11 pm.

Filed under 1993, Helmet, HMD, Liquid Image, MRG2, MRG2.2.

Myron Kruger Takes a Spin in the Flight Helmet

“Virtual Reality Systems ’93″ in the Hyatt above Grand Central Station was the end of the line for this trade show, as it was for the Virtual Research Flight Helmet which was soon to be superseded by lighter and more manufacturable HMDs. In the spirit of these pioneers, here’s a couple of snaps with Myron [...] Related posts:

  1. Regis Takes a Spin
  2. Siggraph ’92 Wrap
  3. Take Flight in the Virtual World

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 5:56 pm.

Filed under 1993, Flight Helmet, Helmet, HMD, Marketing, Trade Show, TV, Virtual Research.

Virtual Vision Helps You Wash Your Car…

Back in 1993 this $700 device promised you could watch TV and wash your car at the same time, a claim seemingly backed up by Consumer Reports: Related posts:

  1. 10 Reasons Why Virtual Reality Did Not Become a Standard
  2. Number 5 in PC World’s “Ugliest Products in Tech History” – VIRTUAL BOY
  3. Virtual Boy – Another Perspective…

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 6:59 pm.

Filed under 1993, CNN, Consumer Reports, Helmet, HMD, Virtual Vision.

Introducing a New VRontier!

In early 1993 many friends and associates received this letter:

Distinguished Associate or Friend, We are pleased to introduce to you the beginning of a new chapter in the progress of virtual reality, in terms of its technology as well as its distribution.
Related posts:
  1. Siggraph ’92 Wrap
  2. Myron Kruger Takes a Spin in the Flight Helmet
  3. Tearing Out the Guts of a Virtual Research VR-4 Helmet

0 Comments. Posted by Tone on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 2:31 pm.

Filed under 1993, Helmet, HMD, Tier 1, VRontier Worlds.