VPL Research: Difference between revisions
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{{Company Infobox | {{Company Infobox | ||
|image= | |image=[[File:vpl research logo1.jpg|300px]] | ||
|Type=Private | |Type=Private | ||
|Industry=[[Virtual Reality]] | |Industry=[[Virtual Reality]] | ||
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|Website=Defunct | |Website=Defunct | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{see also|Companies}} | |||
'''VPL Research''' ('''Virtual Programming Languages''') was one of the first companies that developed and sold [[virtual reality]] products. It was founded by [[computer scientist]] [[Jaron Lanier]] and inventor [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]] in 1984.<ref name="wikipedia">VPL Research - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPL_Research</ref> The company pioneered commercial VR hardware and software during the 1980s and was the first firm to design, build, and sell integrated VR systems.<ref name="latimes">Furger, Roberta. The New, Improved Reality. Los Angeles Times, July 21 1991. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-21-tm-264-story.html</ref> VPL Research played a pivotal role in the early development of virtual reality, with Lanier often credited with coining or popularizing the term "virtual reality".<ref name="vrs">VPL Research Jaron Lanier - Virtual Reality Society. (2017, July 13). Retrieved from https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-profiles/vpl-research.html</ref> | '''VPL Research''' ('''Virtual Programming Languages''') was one of the first companies that developed and sold [[virtual reality]] products. It was founded by [[computer scientist]] [[Jaron Lanier]] and inventor [[Thomas G. Zimmerman]] in 1984.<ref name="wikipedia">VPL Research - Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPL_Research</ref> The company pioneered commercial VR hardware and software during the 1980s and was the first firm to design, build, and sell integrated VR systems.<ref name="latimes">Furger, Roberta. The New, Improved Reality. Los Angeles Times, July 21 1991. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-21-tm-264-story.html</ref> VPL Research played a pivotal role in the early development of virtual reality, with Lanier often credited with coining or popularizing the term "virtual reality".<ref name="vrs">VPL Research Jaron Lanier - Virtual Reality Society. (2017, July 13). Retrieved from https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-profiles/vpl-research.html</ref> | ||
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* '''[[Young Harvill]]''' - Joined as the fourth employee in 1985.<ref name="wikipedia"/> VP of Engineering at VPL. Created Swivel 3D and worked on RB2 and the DataGlove.<ref name="wikipedia"/><ref name="ixdf"/> | * '''[[Young Harvill]]''' - Joined as the fourth employee in 1985.<ref name="wikipedia"/> VP of Engineering at VPL. Created Swivel 3D and worked on RB2 and the DataGlove.<ref name="wikipedia"/><ref name="ixdf"/> | ||
* '''[[Ann Lasko-Harvill]]''' - Chief designer of data suits at VPL Research.<ref name="awexr"> | * '''[[Ann Lasko-Harvill]]''' - Chief designer of data suits at VPL Research.<ref name="awexr"></ref> Led development of wearables, tailoring the DataSuit for both male and female anthropometrics.<ref name="awexr"/> | ||
* '''[[Chuck Blanchard]]''' - Software developer who created Body Electric visual programming language.<ref name="vplsoftware"/> Worked with Lanier on the Embrace visual programming language from 1988 to 1991.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | * '''[[Chuck Blanchard]]''' - Software developer who created Body Electric visual programming language.<ref name="vplsoftware"/> Worked with Lanier on the Embrace visual programming language from 1988 to 1991.<ref name="wikipedia"/> | ||
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===Scientific American Coverage=== | ===Scientific American Coverage=== | ||
The VPL DataGlove was brought to market in 1987, and in October of that year it appeared on the cover of [[Scientific American]].<ref name="britannica"> | The VPL DataGlove was brought to market in 1987, and in October of that year it appeared on the cover of [[Scientific American]].<ref name="britannica"></ref> This mainstream scientific publication coverage helped legitimize VR as a serious technology rather than science fiction. | ||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
Despite filing for bankruptcy in 1990, VPL Research is recognized as one of the pioneering companies in virtual reality. The company developed some of the first commercial VR products and implemented some of the first applications of virtual reality.<ref name="vrs"/> VPL's contributions include: | Despite filing for bankruptcy in 1990, VPL Research is recognized as one of the pioneering companies in virtual reality. The company developed some of the first commercial VR products and implemented some of the first applications of virtual reality.<ref name="vrs"/> VPL's contributions include: | ||
* '''Terminology''' - Jaron Lanier | * '''Terminology''' - Jaron Lanier popularized, and arguably coined, the phrase "virtual reality," cementing VPL's place in technology history<ref name="latimes"/> | ||
* '''Patent lineage''' - Sun's 1998 acquisition folded VPL IP into Java 3D, influencing successors such as OpenVR, WebVR, and modern VR standards<ref name="hpcwire">Sun Acquires VR & Networked 3D Graphics Patent. HPCwire, Feb 27 1998. Retrieved from https://www.hpcwire.com/1998/02/27/sun-acquires-vr-networked-3d-graphics-patent/</ref> | * '''Patent lineage''' - Sun's 1998 acquisition folded VPL IP into Java 3D, influencing successors such as OpenVR, WebVR, and modern VR standards<ref name="hpcwire">Sun Acquires VR & Networked 3D Graphics Patent. HPCwire, Feb 27 1998. Retrieved from https://www.hpcwire.com/1998/02/27/sun-acquires-vr-networked-3d-graphics-patent/</ref> | ||
* '''Consumer VR''' - The Power Glove spin-off introduced motion-controlled gaming to the mass market | * '''Consumer VR''' - The Power Glove spin-off introduced motion-controlled gaming to the mass market | ||
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</references> | </references> | ||
[[Category:Virtual | [[Category:Companies]] | ||
[[Category:Defunct Companies]] | |||
[[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]] | |||
[[Category:Defunct technology companies of the United States]] | [[Category:Defunct technology companies of the United States]] | ||
[[Category:Companies established in 1984]] | [[Category:Companies established in 1984]] | ||