View source for VPL EyePhone

{{Device Infobox
|image = 
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]
|Subtype = [[PC-Powered VR]], [[Vintage VR]]
|Platform = Silicon Graphics IRIS/Onyx workstations
|Creator = [[Jaron Lanier]], [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]]
|Developer = [[VPL Research]]
|Manufacturer = [[VPL Research]]
|Announcement Date = June 1989
|Release Date = June 1989
|Price = $9,400 (EyePhone 1), $12,500 (Model 2 LX), $49,000-50,000 (EyePhone HRX), $250,000 (complete RB2 system)
|Website = 
|Versions = Model 1, Model 2 LX, Model HRX
|Requires = High-end computer system (Silicon Graphics workstation), Polhemus magnetic tracker
|Predecessor = 
|Successor = 
|Operating System = MS-DOS, early Windows
|Chipset = 
|CPU = 
|GPU = 
|HPU = 
|Storage = 
|Memory = 
|SD Card Slot = 
|Display = Dual active-matrix LCD panels
|Subpixel Layout = 
|Peak Brightness = 
|Resolution = 185 × 138 (Model 1), 320 × 240 (Model 2 LX), 720 × 480 (Model HRX) per eye
|Refresh Rate = 30 Hz
|Pixel Density = 
|Persistence = 
|Precision = 
|Field of View = 90° (Model 1), 108° (Model 2 LX), 106° (Model HRX)
|Horizontal FoV = 90°-108° (model dependent)
|Vertical FoV = 75°
|Visible FoV = 
|Rendered FoV = 
|Binocular Overlap = 
|Average Pixel Density = 
|Peak Pixel Density = 
|Foveated Rendering = 
|Optics = LEEP optics design with Fresnel condensing lenses
|Ocularity = Binocular
|IPD Range = Adjustable
|Adjustable Diopter = 
|Passthrough = 
|Tracking = 3 DoF electromagnetic (Polhemus FASTRAK)
|Tracking Frequency = 60 Hz
|Base Stations = No
|Eye Tracking = No
|Face Tracking = No
|Hand Tracking = Yes (with DataGlove)
|Body Tracking = Yes (with DataSuit)
|Rotational Tracking = Yes
|Positional Tracking = No
|Update Rate = 60 Hz
|Tracking Volume = 
|Play Space = 
|Latency = <50 ms (with SGI rendering)
|Audio = Stereo headphones
|Microphone = 
|3.5mm Audio Jack = 
|Camera = No
|Connectivity = Wired to computer (NTSC composite signals)
|Ports = 
|Wired Video = Yes
|Wireless Video = 
|WiFi = 
|Bluetooth = 
|Power = External (workstation-powered)
|Battery Capacity = 
|Battery Life = 
|Charge Time = 
|Dimensions = 
|Weight = 200 g (visor only), ~2.5 kg (complete system with cables)
|Material = Plastic
|Headstrap = Stiff fabric strap
|Haptics = No
|Color = Beige
|Sensors = Head tracking sensors (Polhemus magnetic tracker)
|Input = [[DataGlove]] (sold separately)
|Compliance = 
|Size = 
|Cable Length = 
}}

The '''EyePhone''' was a pioneering [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] (HMD) developed by [[VPL Research]] and released in June 1989.<ref name="wikipedia">Wikipedia. "EyePhone". July 27, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyePhone</ref> Created by [[Jaron Lanier]] and [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]], with Lanier having coined the term "virtual reality,"<ref name="vrs">Virtual Reality Society. "VPL Research Jaron Lanier". July 13, 2017. https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-profiles/vpl-research.html</ref> the EyePhone was one of the first commercially available VR headsets and played a significant role in the early development of virtual reality technology.

==History==
===Company Background===
[[VPL Research]] was founded in 1984 by [[Jaron Lanier]] in a corner of his cottage in [[Palo Alto]], California.<ref name="flashbak">Flashbak. "Jaron Lanier's EyePhone: Head And Glove Virtual Reality In The 1980s". November 24, 2014. https://flashbak.com/jaron-laniers-eyephone-head-and-glove-virtual-reality-in-the-1980s-26180/</ref> The company name "VPL" stood for "Virtual Programming Languages."<ref name="wiki-vpl">Wikipedia. "VPL Research". May 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPL_Research</ref> VPL Research became one of the first companies to develop and sell virtual reality products, with funding that came in part from [[Marvin Minsky]].<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>

===Development and Release===
The EyePhone was announced and brought to market in June 1989.<ref name="britannica">Britannica. "VPL DataGlove". https://www.britannica.com/technology/VPL-DataGlove</ref> It was first demonstrated at the [[SIGGRAPH]] "Tomorrow's Realities" exhibit on June 1, 1989, followed by extensive press coverage in ''[[TIME]]'' and ''[[Analog Science Fiction & Fact]]'' that popularized the phrase "virtual reality" in mainstream media.<ref name="time90">TIME. "Technology: (Mis)Adventures in Cyberspace". November 5, 1990.</ref> The device was later displayed at various technology conferences, including the Texpo Telecommunications Show in San Francisco on June 7, 1989.<ref name="flashbak"/> Despite being marketed as a revolutionary VR device, the EyePhone was primarily a research device due to its high cost and technical limitations.<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>

===Commercial Models===
VPL Research offered three versions of the EyePhone:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ EyePhone Model Specifications
! Model !! Horizontal FoV !! Resolution (per eye) !! List Price !! Notes
|-
| Model 1 || 90° || 185 × 138 px || $9,400-10,000 || Limited pilot run for academic labs
|-
| Model 2 LX || 108° || 320 × 240 px || $12,500 (visor only) || Most common unit shown in demos
|-
| Model HRX || 106° || 720 × 480 px || $49,000-50,000 || High-res variant paired with SGI Onyx
|}

The complete "Reality Built for Two" (RB2) system, including the computers required to run it, cost upwards of $250,000,<ref name="wiki-vpl"/> making it inaccessible to most consumers and limiting its use to research institutions and specialized applications.

==Technical Specifications==
===Display Technology===
The EyePhone featured:
* '''Display Type''': Dual active-matrix [[LCD]] panels that provided slightly different images to each eye to create stereoscopic 3D<ref name="vrs"/>
* '''Resolution''': Varied by model - 185 × 138 (Model 1), 320 × 240 (Model 2 LX), 720 × 480 (Model HRX) pixels per eye<ref name="vrcompare">VRcompare. "VPL EyePhone: Full Specification". https://vr-compare.com/headset/vpleyephone</ref>
* '''Field of View''': 90°-108° horizontal (model dependent), 75° vertical<ref name="vrcompare"/>
* '''Optics''': Modified [[LEEP optics]] design with [[Fresnel lenses|Fresnel condensing lenses]]<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>
* '''Refresh Rate''': 30 Hz theoretical specification, though the device could only generate 5-6 frames per second in practical use<ref name="flashbak"/><ref name="wiki-vpl"/>
* '''Signal Input''': NTSC composite signals<ref name="vrcompare"/>

===Physical Design===
The EyePhone had a distinctive design:
* '''Weight''': 200 grams (visor only), approximately 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) for complete system with cables<ref name="nextweb">The Next Web. "Virtual reality video demonstration from 1990 is a blast from the past". November 14, 2016. https://thenextweb.com/news/virtual-reality-1990-japan</ref>
* '''Color''': Beige plastic construction<ref name="cbinsights">CB Insights. "VPL Research - Products, Competitors, Financials". https://www.cbinsights.com/company/vpl-research</ref>
* '''Form Factor''': Stiff fabric headstrap without counterweight<ref name="meester">Meester, Raymond. "The circle of VR. Part 1: A brief history of consumer…". Medium. November 19, 2023. https://medium.com/@raymond_meester/the-circle-of-vr-f9be78d63e88</ref>
* '''Audio''': Built-in stereo headphones<ref name="vrs"/>
* '''IPD Adjustment''': Adjustable interpupillary distance<ref name="vrcompare"/>

===Tracking Capabilities===
The EyePhone featured:
* '''Degrees of Freedom''': 3 DoF (three degrees of freedom) for rotational head tracking<ref name="vrcompare"/>
* '''Tracking System''': [[Polhemus]] FASTRAK electromagnetic sensor<ref name="polhemus">Webster, R.; Clark, A. "EyePhone HMD and DataGlove with Polhemus tracking system". ResearchGate. 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/</ref>
* '''Tracking Frequency''': 60 Hz<ref name="polhemus"/>
* '''Latency''': Less than 50 ms when coupled with SGI rendering<ref name="polhemus"/>
* '''Positional Tracking''': Not supported

===Platform Requirements===
The EyePhone required:
* '''Graphics Workstations''': Dual [[Silicon Graphics]] [[IRIS 3000]] or [[Onyx]] workstations (one rendering pipeline per eye)<ref name="ars90">Kranzlmüller, D. "What's New in Reality Built for Two". Ars Electronica '90 proceedings. pp. 189-193.</ref>
* '''Operating Systems''': [[MS-DOS]], early [[Windows]]<ref name="meester"/>
* '''Authoring Station''': [[Macintosh]]-based system networked via [[Ethernet]]<ref name="ars90"/>

==VPL Ecosystem==
The EyePhone was part of a larger ecosystem of VR products developed by VPL Research:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Product !! Function !! Price
|-
| [[DataGlove]] || Hand tracking and interaction device with fiber-optic sensors and 6502 microcontrollers || $9,000<ref name="delta2020">Delta2020. "Here's what you didn't know about the history of Virtual Reality". https://delta2020.com/blog/221-here-s-what-you-didn-t-know-about-the-history-of-virtual-reality</ref>
|-
| [[DataSuit]] || Full-body tracking suit with sensors for arms, legs, and trunk || N/A
|-
| AudioSphere || 3D spatial audio system || N/A
|-
| Isaac || Real-time 3D visual rendering engine || N/A
|-
| Body Electric || Visual programming language for VR || N/A
|-
| RB2 (Reality Built for Two) || Complete multi-user VR system || $250,000<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>
|}

The [[DataGlove]], developed by [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]], was brought to market in 1987 and appeared on the cover of [[Scientific American]] in October of that year.<ref name="britannica"/> VPL later licensed the DataGlove technology to [[Mattel]], which used it to create the [[Power Glove]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]].<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>

==Software and Applications==
===Programming Environment===
VPL Research developed several software components for the EyePhone system:
* '''Body Electric''' - A visual programming language and scripting system used to control and program all VR components<ref name="vrs"/><ref name="acm">Lanier, J. "A Virtual Reality". ACM SIGGRAPH Video Review 45. 1990.</ref>
* '''Isaac''' - A real-time 3D visual rendering engine that worked with Body Electric to create virtual environments<ref name="vrs"/>
* '''Swivel 3D''' - A 3D modeling application created by Young Harvill that allowed users to generate virtual worlds on Macintosh computers<ref name="harvill">VPL Research. "Swivel 3D Documentation". 1989.</ref>

===Demonstrated Applications===
The EyePhone was demonstrated with various applications at technology conferences:
* '''SIGGRAPH 1989''' - Interactive virtual environments where users could control virtual astronaut movements<ref name="flashbak"/>
* '''Web Dance''' - A virtual auditorium for multi-user experiences<ref name="acm"/>
* '''NASA Research''' - Data visualization spaces used for teleoperation research<ref name="acm"/>
* '''Reality Built for Two (RB2)''' - Shared virtual reality experiences where multiple users could interact in the same virtual space<ref name="technes">TECHNES Encyclopedia. "VPL Research EyePhone". https://encyclo-technes.org/en/base/60195x/4998</ref>

==Cultural Impact==
===Media Appearances===
The EyePhone and other VPL Research products gained significant media attention:
* Featured in the 1992 science fiction film "[[The Lawnmower Man]]," which used actual VR equipment from VPL Research labs<ref name="wiki-vpl"/><ref name="teslasuit">Teslasuit Blog. "The History of Virtual Reality: Ultimate Guide. Part 1". September 26, 2022. https://teslasuit.io/blog/history-of-virtual-reality-ultimate-guide/</ref>
* Covered extensively in technology publications of the late 1980s and early 1990s
* Helped popularize the term "virtual reality" in mainstream culture through coverage in ''TIME'' and ''Analog Science Fiction & Fact''<ref name="time90"/>

===Legacy===
Despite its commercial limitations, the EyePhone was significant for several reasons:
* It was one of the first commercially available VR headsets
* It demonstrated the potential of virtual reality to a wider audience
* It influenced the development of subsequent VR technologies
* It established many conventions still used in VR today, including stereoscopic displays and head tracking
* The device survives in museum collections and has become a sought-after artifact of the first VR boom<ref name="listhead">Wikipedia. "List of virtual reality headsets". 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtual_reality_headsets</ref>

==Company Closure==
VPL Research filed for [[bankruptcy]] in 1990,<ref name="wiki-vpl"/> just one year after the EyePhone's release. The company's patents were eventually sold to [[Sun Microsystems]] in 1998.<ref name="wiki-vpl"/> [[Oracle Corporation]]'s later acquisition of Sun Microsystems means that Oracle now owns the original EyePhone patents, though it is unknown if anything has come of them.<ref name="vrs"/>

==Reception and Limitations==
The EyePhone faced several challenges that limited its commercial success:

===Technical Limitations===
* '''Frame Rate''': The system could only achieve 5-6 frames per second in actual use, compared to 30 fps on contemporary television sets<ref name="flashbak"/>
* '''Bulk and Comfort''': At 2.5 kg for the complete system, the headset was uncomfortable for extended use, with the stiff fabric strap placing strain on the user's brow<ref name="nextweb"/><ref name="meester"/>
* '''Resolution''': The 320×240 per eye resolution (on Model 2 LX) was low even by 1980s standards

===Market Barriers===
* '''Cost''': The total system cost of $250,000 made it inaccessible to consumers<ref name="wiki-vpl"/>
* '''Computing Requirements''': Required expensive Silicon Graphics workstations to operate
* '''Limited Software''': Few applications were available for the platform
* '''Sales''': Only a few hundred systems were sold worldwide before VPL's bankruptcy<ref name="legacy">VR History Museum. "VPL Research Legacy". 2024.</ref>

==Comparison to Other Devices==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Device !! Release Year !! Resolution (per eye) !! FoV (Horizontal) !! Tracking !! Price
|-
| VPL EyePhone || 1989 || 320×240 || 108° || 3 DoF || $250,000 (system)
|-
| [[NVisor]] (NVIS) || 2003 || 1280×1024 || 44° || 3 DoF || $24,000
|-
| [[Virtuality Visette]] || 1991 || 276×372 || 105° || 3 DoF || $65,000
|-
| [[Oculus Rift]] || 2016 || 1080×1200 || 110° || 6 DoF || $599
|}

While primitive by today's standards, the EyePhone established several features that became standard in modern VR:
* Stereoscopic displays for 3D perception
* Head tracking for view control
* Integration with hand tracking devices
* Focus on immersive experiences

Modern VR headsets have dramatically improved upon the EyePhone's specifications, offering higher resolutions, better tracking, lighter weight, and more affordable prices.

==See Also==
* [[Virtual reality]]
* [[Head-mounted display]]
* [[VPL Research]]
* [[Jaron Lanier]]
* [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]]
* [[DataGlove]]
* [[The Lawnmower Man]]
* [[History of virtual reality]]
* [[List of virtual reality headsets]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="wikipedia">Wikipedia. "EyePhone". July 27, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyePhone</ref>
<ref name="vrcompare">VRcompare. "VPL EyePhone: Full Specification". https://vr-compare.com/headset/vpleyephone</ref>
<ref name="wiki-vpl">Wikipedia. "VPL Research". May 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPL_Research</ref>
<ref name="flashbak">Flashbak. "Jaron Lanier's EyePhone: Head And Glove Virtual Reality In The 1980s". November 24, 2014. https://flashbak.com/jaron-laniers-eyephone-head-and-glove-virtual-reality-in-the-1980s-26180/</ref>
<ref name="vrs">Virtual Reality Society. "VPL Research Jaron Lanier". July 13, 2017. https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-profiles/vpl-research.html</ref>
<ref name="britannica">Britannica. "VPL DataGlove". https://www.britannica.com/technology/VPL-DataGlove</ref>
<ref name="delta2020">Delta2020. "Here's what you didn't know about the history of Virtual Reality". https://delta2020.com/blog/221-here-s-what-you-didn-t-know-about-the-history-of-virtual-reality</ref>
<ref name="nextweb">The Next Web. "Virtual reality video demonstration from 1990 is a blast from the past". November 14, 2016. https://thenextweb.com/news/virtual-reality-1990-japan</ref>
<ref name="cbinsights">CB Insights. "VPL Research - Products, Competitors, Financials". https://www.cbinsights.com/company/vpl-research</ref>
<ref name="technes">TECHNES Encyclopedia. "VPL Research EyePhone". https://encyclo-technes.org/en/base/60195x/4998</ref>
<ref name="teslasuit">Teslasuit Blog. "The History of Virtual Reality: Ultimate Guide. Part 1". September 26, 2022. https://teslasuit.io/blog/history-of-virtual-reality-ultimate-guide/</ref>
<ref name="meester">Meester, Raymond. "The circle of VR. Part 1: A brief history of consumer…". Medium. November 19, 2023. https://medium.com/@raymond_meester/the-circle-of-vr-f9be78d63e88</ref>
<ref name="polhemus">Webster, R.; Clark, A. "EyePhone HMD and DataGlove with Polhemus tracking system". ResearchGate. 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/</ref>
<ref name="ars90">Kranzlmüller, D. "What's New in Reality Built for Two". Ars Electronica '90 proceedings. pp. 189-193.</ref>
<ref name="time90">TIME. "Technology: (Mis)Adventures in Cyberspace". November 5, 1990.</ref>
<ref name="acm">Lanier, J. "A Virtual Reality". ACM SIGGRAPH Video Review 45. 1990.</ref>
<ref name="harvill">VPL Research. "Swivel 3D Documentation". 1989.</ref>
<ref name="listhead">Wikipedia. "List of virtual reality headsets". 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtual_reality_headsets</ref>
<ref name="legacy">VR History Museum. "VPL Research Legacy". 2024.</ref>
</references>


[[Category:Vintage Devices]]
[[Category:Vintage VR]]
[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual Reality Devices]]
[[Category:Virtual reality headsets]]
[[Category:VPL Research]]
[[Category:Head-mounted displays]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1989]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1989]]
[[Category:1980s in video gaming]]
[[Category:History of virtual reality]]