VPL EyePhone
| VPL EyePhone | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| 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) |
| Versions | Model 1, Model 2 LX, Model HRX |
| Requires | High-end computer system (Silicon Graphics workstation), Polhemus magnetic tracker |
| System | |
| Operating System | MS-DOS, early Windows |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual active-matrix LCD panels |
| Resolution | 185 × 138 (Model 1), 320 × 240 (Model 2 LX), 720 × 480 (Model HRX) per eye |
| Refresh Rate | 30 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 90° (Model 1), 108° (Model 2 LX), 106° (Model HRX) |
| Horizontal FoV | 90°-108° (model dependent) |
| Vertical FoV | 75° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | LEEP optics design with Fresnel condensing lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Tracking | |
| 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 |
| Latency | less than 50 ms (with SGI rendering) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Stereo headphones |
| Camera | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wired to computer (NTSC composite signals) |
| Wired Video | Yes |
| Power | External (workstation-powered) |
| Device | |
| 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) |
The EyePhone was a pioneering virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD) developed by VPL Research and released in June 1989.[1] Created by Jaron Lanier and Thomas G. Zimmerman, with Lanier having 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 June 1989.[5] 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.[6] The device was later 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 three versions of the EyePhone:
| 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,[4] 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[2]
- Resolution: Varied by model - 185 × 138 (Model 1), 320 × 240 (Model 2 LX), 720 × 480 (Model HRX) pixels per eye[7]
- Field of View: 90°-108° horizontal (model dependent), 75° vertical[7]
- Optics: Modified LEEP optics design with Fresnel condensing lenses[4]
- Refresh Rate: 30 Hz theoretical specification, though the device could only generate 5-6 frames per second in practical use[3][4]
- Signal Input: NTSC composite signals[7]
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[8]
- Color: Beige plastic construction[9]
- Form Factor: Stiff fabric headstrap without counterweight[10]
- Audio: Built-in stereo headphones[2]
- IPD Adjustment: Adjustable interpupillary distance[7]
Tracking Capabilities
The EyePhone featured:
- Degrees of Freedom: 3 DoF (three degrees of freedom) for rotational head tracking[7]
- Tracking System: Polhemus FASTRAK electromagnetic sensor[11]
- Tracking Frequency: 60 Hz[11]
- Latency: Less than 50 ms when coupled with SGI rendering[11]
- Positional Tracking: Not supported
Platform Requirements
The EyePhone required:
- Graphics Workstations: Dual Silicon Graphics IRIS 3000 or Onyx workstations (one rendering pipeline per eye)[12]
- Operating Systems: MS-DOS, early Windows[10]
- Authoring Station: Macintosh-based system networked via Ethernet[12]
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 and 6502 microcontrollers | $9,000[13] |
| 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[4] |
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.[5] 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 and scripting system used to control and program all VR components[2][14]
- Isaac - A real-time 3D visual rendering engine that worked with Body Electric to create virtual environments[2]
- Swivel 3D - A 3D modeling application created by Young Harvill that allowed users to generate virtual worlds on Macintosh computers[15]
Demonstrated Applications
The EyePhone was demonstrated with various applications at technology conferences:
- SIGGRAPH 1989 - Interactive virtual environments where users could control virtual astronaut movements[3]
- Web Dance - A virtual auditorium for multi-user experiences[14]
- NASA Research - Data visualization spaces used for teleoperation research[14]
- Reality Built for Two (RB2) - Shared virtual reality experiences where multiple users could interact in the same virtual space[16]
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][17]
- 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[6]
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[18]
Company Closure
VPL Research filed for bankruptcy in 1990,[4] just one year 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 for the complete system, the headset was uncomfortable for extended use, with the stiff fabric strap placing strain on the user's brow[8][10]
- 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[4]
- 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[19]
Comparison to Other Devices
| 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
- ↑ Wikipedia. "EyePhone". July 27, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyePhone
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Virtual Reality Society. "VPL Research Jaron Lanier". July 13, 2017. https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-profiles/vpl-research.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 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/
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Wikipedia. "VPL Research". May 26, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VPL_Research
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Britannica. "VPL DataGlove". https://www.britannica.com/technology/VPL-DataGlove
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 TIME. "Technology: (Mis)Adventures in Cyberspace". November 5, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 VRcompare. "VPL EyePhone: Full Specification". https://vr-compare.com/headset/vpleyephone
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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
- ↑ CB Insights. "VPL Research - Products, Competitors, Financials". https://www.cbinsights.com/company/vpl-research
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 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
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Webster, R.; Clark, A. "EyePhone HMD and DataGlove with Polhemus tracking system". ResearchGate. 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kranzlmüller, D. "What's New in Reality Built for Two". Ars Electronica '90 proceedings. pp. 189-193.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lanier, J. "A Virtual Reality". ACM SIGGRAPH Video Review 45. 1990.
- ↑ VPL Research. "Swivel 3D Documentation". 1989.
- ↑ TECHNES Encyclopedia. "VPL Research EyePhone". https://encyclo-technes.org/en/base/60195x/4998
- ↑ Teslasuit Blog. "The History of Virtual Reality: Ultimate Guide. Part 1". September 26, 2022. https://teslasuit.io/blog/history-of-virtual-reality-ultimate-guide/
- ↑ Wikipedia. "List of virtual reality headsets". 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtual_reality_headsets
- ↑ VR History Museum. "VPL Research Legacy". 2024.