| In actuality, virtual reality is not a completely new concept developed in the wake of world wide internet access, but rather dates back more than 30 years ago. during the early 1950's a process called Cinerama became best-known as the technology that sought to expand the movie going experience by filling a larger portion of the audience's visual field. Cinerama entailed shooting from three different angles with separate cameras to produce a final film that was projected on three large screens that curved inward and surrounded the audience's peripheral vision. This theory of visual immersion became an important element to virtual reality. |
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| In 1962, a man named Morton Heilig received a
patent for his invention of the "Sensorama Simulator". Receiving little support
from the government and the entertainment industry on his invention, Sensorama has
provided influential information to the virtual reality of today. Some of his work
included the invention of a newly designed "Experience Theater" in which he used
all the technology available to create and provide the audience with a total illusion of
reality. In doing this, the full sensory information -sight, smell, motion, and sound -
would be broken. "It would fill 100 percent of your visual....and a seat which
vibrated and tilted!"
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| In creating the virtual theater, Helig also realized the possibilities of head-mounted devices, one such head-mounted television. He designed a simulation mask that included 3-D slides with wide peripheral effects, focusing controls and optics, stereophonic sound, and the capability to include smell. Of course, since then, his format has quickly adapted into head-mounted displays using video screens and modern graphics. |
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The information and pictures contained within this website are borrowed from a number of different resources. For a list, view the bibliography.
c.tolson@mail.utexas.edu dwise@mail.utexas.edu clyman@mail.utexas.edu
