View source for Virtual i-O i-glasses!

{{Device Infobox
|image = [[File:i-glasses_VR_headset.jpg|300px]]
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]
|Subtype = [[PC-Powered VR]], [[Vintage VR]]
|Platform = PC, Video Game Consoles, Video Sources
|Creator = Greg Amadon, Linden Rhoads
|Developer = Virtual i-O
|Manufacturer = Virtual i-O (1995-1997), i-O Display Systems (1997-2013)
|Announcement Date = January 1995 (Winter CES)
|Release Date = May 1995
|Price = $395-$499 (Video), $799 (PC 3D), varies by model
|Website = 
|Versions = i-glasses! (original), i-glasses! Video, i-glasses! PC/2D, i-glasses! PC 3D, i-glasses! SVGA, i-glasses! SVGA Pro
|Requires = PC with VGA output or video source with composite output
|Predecessor = None
|Successor = i-glasses SVGA Pro (2003)
|Operating System = Windows 95, Windows 98, DOS
|Chipset = 
|CPU = 
|GPU = 
|HPU = 
|Storage = 
|Memory = 
|SD Card Slot = No
|Display = Dual 0.7" active-matrix LCD
|Subpixel Layout = Standard RGB
|Peak Brightness = 13 foot-lamberts
|Resolution = 300×200 (Video), 640×480 (PC versions), 800×600 (SVGA), 1.44M pixels (SVGA Pro)
|Refresh Rate = 60 Hz (up to 120 Hz for SVGA)
|Pixel Density = 
|Persistence = Full persistence LCD
|Precision = 
|Field of View = 26-30 degrees diagonal
|Horizontal FoV = 30 degrees
|Vertical FoV = 
|Visible FoV = 26-30 degrees
|Rendered FoV = 
|Binocular Overlap = 100%
|Average Pixel Density = 
|Peak Pixel Density = 
|Foveated Rendering = No
|Optics = Fixed-focus lenses
|Ocularity = Binocular stereo or bi-ocular
|IPD Range = Fixed
|Adjustable Diopter = No
|Passthrough = Yes (semi-transparent displays with flip-up visor)
|Tracking = Optional 3DOF magnetic head tracker
|Tracking Frequency = 30-60 Hz
|Base Stations = 
|Eye Tracking = 
|Face Tracking = 
|Hand Tracking = 
|Body Tracking = 
|Rotational Tracking = Yes (yaw, pitch, roll with optional tracker)
|Positional Tracking = 
|Update Rate = 
|Tracking Volume = 
|Play Space = Seated
|Latency = 30-60 ms (governed by COM port polling)
|Audio = Built-in stereo headphones
|Microphone = No
|3.5mm Audio Jack = Yes (pass-through)
|Camera = No
|Connectivity = VGA, Composite video RCA, 9-pin Serial port (for tracker)
|Ports = VGA input, Video input, Power, Serial
|Wired Video = Yes
|Wireless Video = 
|WiFi = 
|Bluetooth = 
|Power = 9V DC external AC adapter (4W)
|Battery Capacity = 
|Battery Life = 
|Charge Time = 
|Dimensions = 
|Weight = 227g (8 ounces) - headset only
|Material = Plastic
|Headstrap = Adjustable head mount
|Haptics = No
|Color = Black
|Sensors = Optional magnetic head tracker
|Input = Optional CyberPuck controller
|Compliance = FCC
|Size = Lightweight design
|Cable Length = Varies
|Eye Relief = 25 mm
|Focus Distance = 13 feet
|Contrast Ratio = 25:1
}}
{{vintage}}
The '''i-glasses!''' (stylized as '''i-glasses!''') were a series of [[head-mounted displays]] (HMDs) developed and manufactured by [[Virtual i-O]] from 1995 to 1997, and later by i-O Display Systems until 2013. These devices were among the first consumer-oriented [[virtual reality]] headsets to achieve mainstream distribution, offering an affordable entry point into VR and [[augmented reality]] experiences during the mid-1990s.<ref name="vrtifacts">V-Rtifacts. 1995 Virtual IO I-Glasses. Retrieved from https://vrtifacts.com/1995-virtual-io-i-glasses/</ref>

==History==
===Company Formation (1993-1995)===
Virtual i-O was founded in 1993 by entrepreneurs [[Greg Amadon]] and [[Linden Rhoads]] in [[Seattle]], Washington. The company spent three years developing their virtual reality eyeglasses technology before attracting seed capital from [[John Malone]], CEO of [[Tele-Communications Inc.]], after demonstrating an early prototype using 900 pounds of computer and video equipment in his garage in [[Boothbay Harbor]], Maine.<ref name="fortune">Fortune Magazine. Virtual I-O Virtual-Reality Headgear. July 8, 1996. Retrieved from https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/07/08/214358/index.htm</ref> A working prototype code-named "PC Viewer" was shown privately to [[Microsoft]] and [[IBM]] engineers in 1993.<ref name="cucug">CUCUG. Virtual i - O Glasses. Retrieved from https://www.cucug.org/amiga/aminews/1995/at950801.html</ref>

===Development and Launch===
The production design was unveiled at Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES) in January 1995 and shipped to U.S. retailers in May 1995.<ref name="3do">3DO World Wiki. IGlasses. Retrieved from https://3do.gamingforce.com/w/IGlasses</ref> The i-glasses were released as one of the first affordable home VR headsets, alongside competitors like the [[VictorMaxx CyberMaxx]] and [[Forte VFX1]].<ref name="vrtifacts"/> The headset was designed to be lightweight and comfortable, weighing only 227 grams (8 ounces), making it significantly lighter than many competing VR systems of the era.<ref name="google-arts">Google Arts & Culture. Virtual i-O i-glasses! Personal 3D Viewer head-mounted display. Retrieved from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/virtual-i-o-i-glasses-personal-3d-viewer-head-mounted-display/4wHrXHZrWs9ZBA</ref>

===European Distribution===
In July 1995, Virtual Products GmbH, a subsidiary of [[Escom AG]], became the exclusive distributor of i-glasses in Europe. Escom developed a special [[PAL]] video standard version specifically for the European market.<ref name="cucug"/>

===Company Decline and Restructuring===
By late 1996, Virtual i-O faced significant financial difficulties. Internal company morale deteriorated, with widespread layoffs occurring in December 1996. A group of disgruntled former employees, known as "Deep Bile," actively circulated information about the company's troubles.<ref name="seattle-weekly">Seattle Weekly. Books Quarterly: All in a Day's Work at Virtual i/O. October 9, 2006. Retrieved from https://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/books-quarterly-all-in-a-days-work-at-virtual-i-o/</ref> The company's struggles were later chronicled in [[Fred Moody]]'s book "The Visionary Position," which documented five high-tech start-ups including Virtual i-O.<ref name="seattle-weekly"/>

Sluggish sales and high manufacturing overhead forced Virtual i-O into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 1997. Its assets were reorganized as '''i-O Display Systems''', which continued to refine the product line through the 2000s, introducing the higher-resolution i-glasses SVGA in 1997 and the stereo-capable SVGA Pro in 2003.<ref name="3do"/><ref name="jonpeddie">Robert Dow. i-O Display Shows Off PRO SVGA Compatible Headset. Jon Peddie Research. July 7, 2003.</ref>

==Technical Specifications==
===Display Technology===
The i-glasses utilized dual [[LCD]] displays to create a [[stereoscopic 3D]] effect. The 1995 models employed two 0.7 inch active-matrix LCDs with a [[color sequential display]] system, which displayed red, green, and blue colors in sequence to create full-color images.<ref name="stanford">Stanford Graphics. Virtual I/O's iglasses! head mounted display. Retrieved from https://graphics.stanford.edu/infrastructure/gamma-corrected/iglasses.html</ref> The displays were semi-transparent, allowing users to see through them in brightly lit environments, enabling [[augmented reality]] applications through a hinged, flip-up opaque visor.<ref name="google-arts"/> 

Key display specifications included:
* Brightness: 13 foot-lamberts
* Contrast ratio: 25:1
* Focus distance: 13 feet
* Eye relief: 25 mm
* 100% binocular overlap

The virtual display created the effect of viewing a large screen from a distance:
* Original i-glasses: Appeared as an 80-inch screen from 5 feet away<ref name="tomshardware">Tom's Hardware. The History Of Virtual Reality: Page 2. March 24, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/704-history-of-virtual-reality-2.html</ref>
* Later models: Created the impression of viewing a 52-inch screen from 6 feet away<ref name="tomshardware"/>

===Models and Versions===
Virtual i-O and later i-O Display Systems released several versions of the i-glasses to target different markets:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Model !! Year !! Resolution (per eye) !! FoV !! Weight !! Tracking !! MSRP
|-
| i-glasses! Video || 1995 || 300×200 || 30° || 227g || None || $499<ref name="google-arts"/>
|-
| i-glasses! PC || 1995 || 640×480 || 30° || 230g || 3-DOF magnetic || $799<ref name="csoon">Coming Soon Magazine. VFX-1 Headgear versus I-Glasses. Issue 11, November 1995.</ref>
|-
| i-glasses! PC 3D || 1995 || 640×480 || 30° || 230g || 3-DOF magnetic || $799
|-
| i-glasses SVGA || 1997 || 800×600 || 26° || 200g || Optional stereo || $1,199 (2-D)<ref name="mindflux">Mindflux. i-glasses SVGA product brief. Archived 2004.</ref>
|-
| i-glasses SVGA Pro || 2003 || 800×600 (1.44M px) || 26° || 200g || Frame-seq 3-D || $1,499<ref name="jonpeddie"/>
|}

===Head Tracking===
The i-glasses supported optional [[3 degrees of freedom]] (3DOF) magnetic head tracking through a separate device attached with Velcro straps. The tracking system featured:<ref name="picclick">PicClick UK. VFX1 HeadGear VIRTUAL REALITY with CyberPuck. Retrieved from https://picclick.co.uk/VFX1-HeadGear-VIRTUAL-REALITY-with-CyberPuck-LinkBOX-and-182752960111.html</ref>
* Serial port connection to PC (typically COM1)
* 70 degrees pitch and roll capability
* Yaw, pitch, and roll detection
* 30-60 ms latency (governed by COM port polling rate)
* Integration with compatible software for head-controlled navigation

===SVGA Model Features===
The later i-glasses SVGA model, released by i-O Display Systems, included advanced features:<ref name="manual">I-O Display Systems. I-glasses SVGA User Manual. Retrieved from https://www.manualslib.com/manual/631835/I-O-Display-Systems-I-Glasses.html</ref>
* Resolution: 800×600 pixels
* Refresh rate: Up to 120 Hz (double the input rate up to 60 Hz)
* [[On-screen display]] (OSD) for adjusting:
** Brightness and contrast
** Audio balance
** Horizontal centering
** Color settings
** 3D mode selection
* Support for [[frame sequential stereo]] with [[nVidia]] game drivers
* Line interlace 3D support with compatible hardware

==Connectivity and Compatibility==
===System Requirements===
The i-glasses were designed to be compatible with a wide range of systems:<ref name="cucug"/>
* Personal computers (PC)
* [[Amiga]] computers
* Gaming consoles ([[Sega]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[PlayStation]])
* Television and [[VCR]] systems
* DVD players
* Any device with composite video output

===Connection Methods===
All versions routed video through an external breakout box that looped a VGA feed to a standard monitor while diverting RGB to the headset. The system included:<ref name="manual"/>
* '''PC Models''': VGA connection with a control box that included:
  * VGA IN port for PC video output
  * VGA OUT port for monitor passthrough
  * SERIAL/HEAD TRACKER port for optional tracking (9-pin serial)
  * 9-volt DC transformer for power (4W)<ref name="stanford"/>
* '''Video Models''': Composite A/V connections (RCA jacks) for universal compatibility
* Stereo RCA inputs for audio
* 3.5mm audio jack pass-through

==Software Support==
===Operating System Compatibility===
Virtual i-O secured support from major software companies:
* [[Microsoft]] [[Windows 95]] compatibility
* [[IBM]] [[OS/2]] support (beta drivers announced but never finalized)
* [[DOS]] game compatibility
* Native support from the [[Amiga]] development community<ref name="cucug"/>

===Applications and Games===
The VGA pass-through allowed head-tracked support in several titles, most notably:<ref name="sdk">i-glasses Developer Kit v1.2 command reference. Virtual I/O. 1995.</ref>
* [[Descent]] (with fan patches)
* [[Doom]] (via community modifications)
* PC gaming with stereoscopic 3D support
* Virtual reality environments
* Television and video viewing ("virtual big-screen")
* Professional visualization
* Educational software
* Bespoke demos distributed with the SDK

Virtual i-O provided sample code for developers to integrate tracking functionality, available through their website and FTP site in 1995.<ref name="stanford"/>

==Reception and Impact==
===Market Position===
The i-glasses were positioned as an affordable alternative to high-end VR systems of the era. At $395-$799 depending on the model, they were significantly less expensive than professional VR equipment while offering consumer-friendly features like lightweight design and broad compatibility.<ref name="google-arts"/>

Early reviews praised the unit's 227-gram mass—half that of rival [[Forte VFX-1]]—and competitive entry price, yet criticized its narrow 30-degree field of view and visible pixels.<ref name="stereo3d">Stereo3D.com. SVGA i-Glasses Experience forum thread. March 16, 2003.</ref>

===Commercial Performance===
By late 1996, Virtual i-O reported moving roughly 300 units per month. The headset found an unexpected niche in medical applications, with dentists accounting for a quarter of sales as the glasses were used for patient distraction during procedures. ''[[Wired]]'' magazine noted that 30,000 sets had shipped to dental offices by 1999.<ref name="wireddentist">Robert Uhlig. Little Big Screen. Wired. August 9, 1999.</ref>

===Technical Limitations===
Despite their innovative approach, the i-glasses faced several limitations:
* Limited field of view (26-30 degrees)<ref name="google-arts"/>
* Low resolution compared to modern standards
* Maximum input resolution of 640×480 for early models<ref name="vrtifacts"/>
* Complex cable setup requiring multiple connections
* No positional (six-DOF) tracking capability

===Legacy===
The i-glasses represented an important step in the commercialization of VR technology. While Virtual i-O ultimately failed as a company, their products demonstrated that consumer VR was technically feasible and could be produced at accessible price points. The semi-transparent display design with flip-up visor pioneered early [[augmented reality]] applications, allowing users to overlay digital content on their real-world view.<ref name="google-arts"/>

Although eclipsed by later devices such as the [[Sony Glasstron]] and [[Oculus Rift]], i-glasses demonstrated that consumer VR could be produced below $1,000 and influenced subsequent lightweight "video eyewear" designs.<ref name="inria">INRIA VR Hardware Catalog. i-glasses SVGA 3D Pro. 2003 entry.</ref>

==Preservation and Modern Use==
Examples of i-glasses headsets are preserved in several technology museums including the [[Deutsches Museum]], and in private collections. The devices remain functional with appropriate video sources, though finding compatible software and replacement parts has become increasingly difficult. The VR enthusiast community continues to document and preserve information about these early consumer VR systems.<ref name="vrtifacts"/>

Teardown communities and retro-computing enthusiasts have documented modern modifications to keep the hardware operational, including:
* HDMI to VGA converters for modern video sources
* USB-C power modifications
* 3D-printed replacement parts
* Software emulation for DOS-era VR titles<ref name="vrtifacts"/>

==See Also==
* [[List of virtual reality headsets]]
* [[History of virtual reality]]
* [[Forte VFX1]]
* [[VictorMaxx CyberMaxx]]
* [[Sony Glasstron]]
* [[1990s in video gaming]]
* [[Head-mounted display]]
* [[Augmented reality]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="vrtifacts">V-Rtifacts. 1995 Virtual IO I-Glasses. Retrieved from https://vrtifacts.com/1995-virtual-io-i-glasses/</ref>
<ref name="fortune">Fortune Magazine. Virtual I-O Virtual-Reality Headgear. July 8, 1996. Retrieved from https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1996/07/08/214358/index.htm</ref>
<ref name="google-arts">Google Arts & Culture. Virtual i-O i-glasses! Personal 3D Viewer head-mounted display. Retrieved from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/virtual-i-o-i-glasses-personal-3d-viewer-head-mounted-display/4wHrXHZrWs9ZBA</ref>
<ref name="cucug">CUCUG. Virtual i - O Glasses. Retrieved from https://www.cucug.org/amiga/aminews/1995/at950801.html</ref>
<ref name="seattle-weekly">Seattle Weekly. Books Quarterly: All in a Day's Work at Virtual i/O. October 9, 2006. Retrieved from https://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/books-quarterly-all-in-a-days-work-at-virtual-i-o/</ref>
<ref name="tomshardware">Tom's Hardware. The History Of Virtual Reality: Page 2. March 24, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/704-history-of-virtual-reality-2.html</ref>
<ref name="stanford">Stanford Graphics. Virtual I/O's iglasses! head mounted display. Retrieved from https://graphics.stanford.edu/infrastructure/gamma-corrected/iglasses.html</ref>
<ref name="manual">I-O Display Systems. I-glasses SVGA User Manual. Retrieved from https://www.manualslib.com/manual/631835/I-O-Display-Systems-I-Glasses.html</ref>
<ref name="picclick">PicClick UK. VFX1 HeadGear VIRTUAL REALITY with CyberPuck. Retrieved from https://picclick.co.uk/VFX1-HeadGear-VIRTUAL-REALITY-with-CyberPuck-LinkBOX-and-182752960111.html</ref>
<ref name="3do">3DO World Wiki. IGlasses. Retrieved from https://3do.gamingforce.com/w/IGlasses</ref>
<ref name="wireddentist">Robert Uhlig. Little Big Screen. Wired. August 9, 1999.</ref>
<ref name="jonpeddie">Robert Dow. i-O Display Shows Off PRO SVGA Compatible Headset. Jon Peddie Research. July 7, 2003.</ref>
<ref name="sdk">i-glasses Developer Kit v1.2 command reference. Virtual I/O. 1995.</ref>
<ref name="csoon">Coming Soon Magazine. VFX-1 Headgear versus I-Glasses. Issue 11, November 1995.</ref>
<ref name="mindflux">Mindflux. i-glasses SVGA product brief. Archived 2004.</ref>
<ref name="stereo3d">Stereo3D.com. SVGA i-Glasses Experience forum thread. March 16, 2003.</ref>
<ref name="inria">INRIA VR Hardware Catalog. i-glasses SVGA 3D Pro. 2003 entry.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Vintage Devices]]
[[Category:Vintage VR]]
[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]
[[Category:VR Headsets]]
[[Category:Virtual reality headsets]]
[[Category:Head-mounted displays]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1995]]
[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]
[[Category:1990s in video gaming]]
[[Category:Augmented reality]]
[[Category:Video game accessories]]