Archives for “VPL Research”

Matt Novak, in Smithsonian’s Paleofuture blog, draws some interesting contrasts between Jaron Lanier’s 1991 Omni Magazine interview and his current book: “You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto.” While the Omni article portrays Lanier as “…a man of vision, enthusiasm, and purpose, if a bit of an eccentric: “The Pied Piper of a growing technological [...] Related posts:

  1. Air Hair – Competition for VR Hair Replacement For Men
  2. Shanghai Tech
  3. Platypus Headsets?


The Science Channel interviews Jaron Lanier who shows off some wide field of view headsets from the late 80′s. Jaron feels like a platypus when wearing one of these JumboTrons. The narrator’s conclusion (and Jaron’s as well): The state of the art in VR hasn’t progressed too much further.   (A tip of the hat [...] Related posts:

  1. And I’m Never Going Back To My Old School
  2. Beware the funny hair… its a tech cult giveaway
  3. Jaron Lanier Explains Why There’s Still Not A VR Bubble


Two snippets from the old, old school of VR, circa 1991, pitching a reputable UK firm – Division (acquired by PTC in 1999.) Featured are a couple of helmets from VPL Research using LEEP optics and cloth/velcro enclosures. One HMD appears to have been modeled after a gask mask from the trenches of the Great [...] Related posts:

  1. Back In The Day – Japan 1990
  2. Back In The USSR
  3. Take Flight in the Virtual World


Jaron walks us through all eleven reasons, from Gates Envy to Movie Projectors. Strangely enough I agree! The Top Eleven Reasons VR Has Not Yet Become Commonplace Tweet [Translate] Related posts:

  1. Yea, though he has walked through the Valley of Silicon, he fears no evil. Jaron Lanier’s rebound…


By 1991, the FlightHelmet was the third HMD  to feature Large Expanse Extra Perspective (LEEP) optics from Eric Howlett’s LEEP-VR. The Flight Helmet combined LEEP’s 100° field of view with an adjustable, comfortable and rugged packaging design. The use of a rear exiting cable as a counterweight made this HMD perfectly balanced. LEEP optics were [...] Related posts:

  1. Flight Helmet – Redux
  2. Nothing New Under the Sun!
  3. And I’m Never Going Back To My Old School