Philips Scuba: Difference between revisions

|Subtype = Console-Powered VR / Video headset

|Developer = [[Philips]] / Philips Consumer Electronics

|Manufacturer = [[Koninklijke Philips N.V.]] / Philips Consumer Electronics

|Announcement Date = Late 1996

|Release Date = 1997-1998

|Versions = VIV100, VIV100AT, VIV100AT01

|Requires = [[Nintendo 64]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Sony PlayStation]], [[DVD player]], or PC with composite video output

|Display = Dual [[AMLCD]] (Active Matrix LCD), approx. 0.7 inches each

|Resolution = 263 × 230 pixels per eye

|Refresh Rate = 60 Hz (NTSC) / 50 Hz (PAL)

|Field of View = 50° diagonal (40° horizontal × 30° vertical)

|Horizontal FoV = 40°-45°

|Vertical FoV = 30°

|Optics = Single-element plastic lenses with fixed focus

|IPD Range = Fixed (no adjustment)

|Audio = Built-in stereo headphones/speakers

|3.5mm Audio Jack = Yes (audio input)

|Connectivity = [[RCA]] composite video input, stereo audio input

|Ports = Composite video (RCA), 3.5mm stereo audio

|Power = External power supply via control box (9V DC)

|Weight = 544 g (1.19 lb / 19.2 oz)

|Headstrap = Adjustable head harness with rear cradle and elastic top strap

The '''Philips Scuba Virtual Immersion Visor''' (models '''VIV100''', '''VIV100AT''', '''VIV100AT01''') was a [[head-mounted display]] (HMD) released by [[Philips]] Consumer Electronics in 1997-1998. Despite being marketed as a [[virtual reality]] headset during the 1990s VR craze, it was essentially a wearable television display or "video headset" that provided a stereoscopic viewing experience without true VR capabilities such as [[head tracking]].<ref name="retrovolve">Retrovolve. "The Scuba Virtual Immersion Visor May Be the Worst Gaming Peripheral of All Time". July 14, 2020.</ref><ref name="vrshop">The VR Shop. "Scuba Visor - Info, Specs, Release Date". February 19, 2022.</ref> The device created a perceived 30-inch image at approximately 1.5 meters viewing distance.<ref name="googlearts">Google Arts & Culture. "Philips Scuba VR Visor head-mounted display".</ref>

The Scuba's technology was originally developed as a VR helmet for the [[Atari Jaguar]] home game system (released in 1993), descended from [[Retinal Displays]]' "Visor" family of HMDs. However, when that project fell through, the technology was sold to [[Philips]], who licensed the optics and chassis design while removing the [[head tracking]] component that Atari had intended to use for its Missile Command VR game.<ref name="googlearts">Google Arts & Culture. "Philips Scuba VR Visor head-mounted display".</ref><ref name="vrsarticle">VR Society. "Virtuality – A New Reality of Promise, Two Decades Too Soon". 2018.</ref>

Philips first teased the device at trade shows in late 1996<ref name="ultragppsg">Ultra Game Players #104. "Scuba Virtual Immersion Visor mini-review". December 1997.</ref> and released the Scuba Virtual Immersion Visor in 1997-1998 at a retail price of $299 USD.<ref name="vrshop"/><ref name="retrovolve"/> This price point was notably $100 more than the launch price of the [[Nintendo 64]], making it an expensive peripheral for the time—roughly $550 adjusted for 2025 inflation.<ref name="retrovolve"/><ref name="ultragppsg"/>

The Scuba sold approximately 55,000 units during its commercial run before being discontinued in 1999.<ref name="googlearts"/> Despite Philips' marketing efforts positioning it as a virtual reality device with claims like "You hadn't played a game until you'd played it wearing an Immersion Visor," consumer reception was mixed to negative, with many criticizing its poor image quality and misleading VR branding. The molds were later reused for low-cost TV viewers in Asia, while Retinal Displays pivoted toward wave-guide optics—technology that ultimately seeded [[DigiLens]] in the mid-2000s.<ref name="retinaldisplays">XVRWiki. "Retinal Displays".</ref>

The Scuba featured dual [[Active Matrix LCD]] (AMLCD) display panels, each approximately 0.7 inches in size, with the following specifications:

* '''Refresh Rate''': 60 Hz (NTSC) / 50 Hz (PAL)<ref name="youtube">YouTube. "Philips Scuba VR headset from 1997 (VIV100) – capacitor test & teardown". February 1, 2024.</ref>

* '''Field of View''': 50° diagonal (40° horizontal × 30° vertical effective)<ref name="vrshop"/><ref name="mellott">Mellott's VR Page. "The Philips Scuba Review".</ref>

* '''Optics''': Single-element plastic lenses with fixed focus; no [[IPD]] or [[diopter]] adjustment<ref name="ultragppsg"/>

The headset weighed 544 grams (1.19 pounds / 19.2 ounces) and featured a design similar to a diving mask, hence the "Scuba" name.<ref name="vrshop"/> It was heavier than contemporary video glasses such as the [[Sony Glasstron]], which reviewers criticized for causing neck strain during extended sessions.<ref name="dogey">Dogey's Lair. "The Scuba Review".</ref> The device utilized:

* An adjustable head harness with a rear cradle and elastic top strap for weight distribution<ref name="mellott"/>

* A rigid plastic yoke that clamped to the user's forehead<ref name="dogey"/>

* Built-in stereo headphones/speakers for audio<ref name="mellott"/>

The Scuba included an external control box (breakout box) that housed:<ref name="mellott"/>

* Power supply input (9V DC from external AC adapter)<ref name="ultragppsg"/>

* 30-minute automatic timer shut-off feature (likely to mitigate eye strain)

 

The device featured basic 3 [[degrees of freedom]] (3DoF) non-positional tracking using [[gyroscope]]-based sensors for rotational head movement detection.<ref name="vrshop"/> However, this was limited compared to the original Atari Jaguar prototype which had included full head-tracking capabilities.

The Philips Scuba was promoted as universal, compatible with various gaming consoles and devices that supported [[NTSC]] or [[PAL]] composite video output:<ref name="shopgoodwill">ShopGoodwill.com. "Philips Magnavox Scuba Virtual Immersion Visor".</ref><ref name="etsy">Etsy. "Vintage Virtual Immersion Visor Scuba by Philips Display".</ref>

| [[DVD player]]s || Yes

| Other NTSC/PAL consoles || Yes

The Philips Scuba received largely negative reviews from critics and consumers. Early coverage in ''[[Ultra Game Players]]'' described it as "a TV strapped to your head," praising its novelty but criticizing image clarity and comfort.<ref name="ultragppsg"/> Common criticisms included:

Some reviewers noted that the headset performed better when disassembled, suggesting fundamental design flaws in the optical assembly.<ref name="retrovolve"/> One review rated it 4/10, noting that while it outperformed competitors in field of view, its optics were subpar compared to alternatives like [[Virtual I/O Glasses]].<ref name="mellott"/>

The Philips Scuba has been retrospectively cited as one of the worst gaming peripherals ever made, representing the challenges and failures of 1990s attempts at consumer VR technology.<ref name="retrovolve"/> Today, it is valued as a collector's item among retro gaming and VR enthusiasts for its historical significance rather than its performance. Hobbyist teardown videos confirm the simple video-goggle construction and note aging capacitors as a common failure point.<ref name="youtube"/>

 

The device serves as an example of how marketing hype around [[virtual reality]] in the 1990s led to products that failed to deliver on their promises, and underscores the importance of comfort and functionality in modern HMD design.

Three model numbers have been identified:

* '''VIV100AT''': A variant model<ref name="ebaylisting">eBay. "Philips SCUBA A/V Headset VIV100AT".</ref>

* '''VIV100AT01''': Another variant with the same specifications<ref name="ebay">eBay. "PHILIPS MAGNAVOX SCUBA VIRTUAL IMMERSION VISOR VIV100 BOXED".</ref>