VPL EyePhone
| VPL EyePhone | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Creator | Jaron Lanier |
| Developer | VPL Research |
| Manufacturer | VPL Research |
| Announcement Date | 1987 |
| Release Date | 1987 |
| Price | $9,400 (EyePhone 1), $49,000 (EyePhone HRX) |
| Versions | EyePhone 1, EyePhone HRX |
| Requires | High-end computer system |
| System | |
| Storage | |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD |
| Resolution | 320 × 240 per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 30 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 108° |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Passthrough | No |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3 DoF |
| 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 |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Stereo headphones |
| Camera | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wired to computer |
| Wired Video | Yes |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | External |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) |
| Material | Plastic |
| Headstrap | Fixed around-the-head fitting |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Beige |
| Sensors | Head tracking sensors |
| Input | DataGlove (sold separately) |
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The EyePhone was a pioneering virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD) developed by VPL Research and released in 1987.[1] Created by Jaron Lanier, who coined the term "virtual reality,"[2] 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.[3] The company name "VPL" stood for "Virtual Programming Languages."[4] VPL Research became one of the first companies to develop and sell virtual reality products, with funding that came in part from Marvin Minsky.[4]
Development and Release
The EyePhone was announced and brought to market in 1987.[5] It was displayed at various technology conferences, including the Texpo Telecommunications Show in San Francisco on June 7, 1989.[3] Despite being marketed as a revolutionary VR device, the EyePhone was primarily a research device due to its high cost and technical limitations.[4]
Commercial Models
VPL Research offered two versions of the EyePhone:
The complete system, including the computers required to run it, cost upwards of $250,000,[4] making it inaccessible to most consumers and limiting its use to research institutions and specialized applications.
Technical Specifications
Display Technology
The EyePhone featured:
- Resolution: 320 × 240 pixels per eye[7]
- Field of View: 108° diagonal[7]
- Display Type: LCD screens that provided slightly different images to each eye to create stereoscopic 3D[2]
- Optics: Fresnel lenses[4]
- Refresh Rate: The device had significant performance limitations, with sources reporting it could only generate 5-6 frames per second in practical use,[3][4] though theoretical specifications claimed 30 Hz[7]
Physical Design
The EyePhone had a distinctive design:
- Weight: Approximately 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds)[8]
- Color: Beige plastic construction[9]
- Form Factor: Fixed around-the-head fitting[9]
- Audio: Built-in stereo headphones[2]
Tracking Capabilities
The EyePhone featured:
- Degrees of Freedom: 3 DoF (three degrees of freedom) for rotational head tracking[7]
- Tracking Type: Head movement tracking without physical tethers to fixed points[9]
- Positional Tracking: Not supported
VPL Ecosystem
The EyePhone was part of a larger ecosystem of VR products developed by VPL Research:
| Product | Function | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DataGlove | Hand tracking and interaction device with fiber-optic sensors | $9,000[6] |
| 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 | N/A |
The DataGlove, which was brought to market in 1987 and appeared on the cover of Scientific American in October of that year,[5] became one of the most iconic VR input devices. VPL later licensed the DataGlove technology to Mattel, which used it to create the Power Glove for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[4]
Software and Applications
Programming Environment
VPL Research developed several software components for the EyePhone system:
- Body Electric - A visual programming language used to control and program all VR components[2]
- Isaac - A real-time 3D visual rendering engine that worked with Body Electric to create virtual environments[2]
Demonstrated Applications
The EyePhone was demonstrated with various applications at technology conferences, allowing users to:
- Navigate through virtual environments
- Manipulate virtual objects using the DataGlove
- Experience "Reality Built for Two" (RB2) - shared virtual reality experiences where multiple users could interact in the same virtual space[10]
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[4][11]
- Covered extensively in technology publications of the late 1980s and early 1990s
- Helped popularize the term "virtual reality" in mainstream culture
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
Company Closure
VPL Research filed for bankruptcy in 1990,[4] just three years after the EyePhone's release. The company's patents were eventually sold to Sun Microsystems in 1998.[4] 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.[2]
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[3]
- Bulk and Comfort: At 2.5 kg, the headset was uncomfortable for extended use[8]
- Resolution: The 320×240 per eye resolution was low even by 1980s standards
Market Barriers
- Cost: The total system cost of $250,000 made it inaccessible to consumers[4]
- Computing Requirements: Required expensive, high-end computers to operate
- Limited Software: Few applications were available for the platform
Comparison to Modern VR
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
- DataGlove
- The Lawnmower Man
- History of virtual reality
References
- ↑ Wikipedia. "EyePhone". July 27, 2022. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "wikipedia" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Virtual Reality Society. "VPL Research Jaron Lanier". July 13, 2017. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vrs" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Flashbak. "Jaron Lanier's EyePhone: Head And Glove Virtual Reality In The 1980s". November 24, 2014. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "flashbak" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Wikipedia. "VPL Research". May 26, 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "wiki-vpl" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Britannica. "VPL DataGlove". Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "britannica" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Delta2020. "Here's what you didn't know about the history of Virtual Reality". Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "delta2020" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 VRcompare. "VPL EyePhone: Full Specification". Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vrcompare" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Next Web. "Virtual reality video demonstration from 1990 is a blast from the past". November 14, 2016. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "nextweb" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 CB Insights. "VPL Research - Products, Competitors, Financials". Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "cbinsights" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ TECHNES Encyclopedia. "VPL Research EyePhone". Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "technes" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Teslasuit Blog. "The History of Virtual Reality: Ultimate Guide. Part 1". September 26, 2022. Cite error: Invalid
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