Forum Discussion
Mixed Reality origins
Perhaps I might've missed it, but where did mixed reality really start from?
4 Replies
On the virtual reality side of the MR spectrum, if Wikipedia is accurate, a computer scientist named Ivan Sutherland (along with a team of students at Havard) invented the first VR headset. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Sutherland
On the augmented reality side? Louis Rosenburg created the first AR solution for the U.S. air force in the early 90's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_B._Rosenberg
I got my start in VR with the Oculus DK1 back in 2012, but I didn't get serious about VR dev until the GearVR in 2015. My first professional VR experience started with the Vive, shortly before that launched to the public! It has been pretty exciting to be part of the current wave of MR tech, it definitely feels like it's here to stay 🙂
It's wild to know how much effort has been put into MR before this as well! Back when I was looking for a University (2006-2007?), I visited UNC Chapel Hill, and got a chance to try out their VR setup. It was an impressive device suspended from the ceiling, and I got to try a really well implemented and memorable implementation of the plank experience! I occasionally see research from early wave MR, and it's always a great reminder that plenty of people have already explored and researched this space quite a while ago.
