VR Beginnings and the Near Future

The Origins of VR Head Mounted Displays: Insights from World War I Innovations

The history of Virtual Reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs) can be traced back to early 20th-century innovations that laid the groundwork for modern VR technology. One significant but often overlooked contribution is Albert Bacon Pratt's "Integrated Helmet Mounted Aiming and Weapon Delivery System," invented during the First World War. While not a VR system itself, Pratt’s invention provided essential design elements that influenced the development of later VR technologies.

Albert Bacon Pratt’s Invention

During World War I, Albert Bacon Pratt devised the "Integrated Helmet Mounted Aiming and Weapon Delivery System." This innovative design combined a helmet with an aiming system, allowing soldiers to aim their weapons more accurately while protecting their heads. Although this system did not incorporate virtual reality, it introduced a critical concept: integrating a display mechanism within a helmet, a feature that would become central to the design of VR headsets in the future .

Influence on VR Headsets

Pratt's helmet system can be considered the earliest form of head-mounted display (HMD) design. The key components of his invention—goggles for projecting information and the helmet-like structure—are mirrored in contemporary VR headsets. Modern VR HMDs typically consist of a helmet or headband that holds a display device in front of the user's eyes, providing an immersive visual experience.

Evolution of Helmet-Mounted Systems

Following Pratt’s invention, helmet-mounted systems continued to evolve, particularly in military applications. These systems were designed to project information directly into the user's line of sight, enhancing situational awareness and precision. This evolution was crucial for the development of technologies that could overlay digital information onto the physical world, a foundational concept for both augmented reality (AR) and VR .

Key Technological Milestones

Several technological advancements in the mid-20th century built on Pratt's concepts, leading to the development of modern VR headsets:

1. The Philco Headsight (1961): One of the earliest examples of a head-mounted display, the Philco Headsight, was developed for remote viewing of hazardous environments. It featured a video screen in front of each eye and a magnetic tracking system to monitor head movements.

2. The Sword of Damocles (1968): Often cited as the first true VR HMD, this device was developed by Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull. It combined a stereoscopic display with head-tracking capabilities, creating a rudimentary but immersive virtual environment.

Modern VR Headsets

Today’s VR headsets, such as the Apple Vision Pro, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, owe much to the foundational designs established by early inventors like Albert Bacon Pratt. These modern devices incorporate advanced technologies, including high-resolution displays, precise motion tracking, and integrated audio systems, to create fully immersive virtual experiences.

As well, according to a 2022 press release from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Soldier reports that the Army is neck deep in creating a VR headset and "it will deliver 5,000 IVAS 1.0 versions and another 5,000 updated versions during 2023. Initial reports had the Army ordering as many as 40,000 of the headsets."

And quoting a blog from this year, "The metaverse is expanding thanks to AR, VR and AI’s abilities to rapidly generate more accurate 3D environments. AI offers immense potential for the military to process data, inform decision-making, and increase productivity and effectiveness across missions." Article link here.

Conclusion

Albert Bacon Pratt’s "Integrated Helmet Mounted Aiming and Weapon Delivery System" represents a pivotal point in the evolution of head-mounted display technology. While not a VR system, its design principles significantly influenced the development of modern VR headsets. Understanding these historical roots helps us appreciate the technological advancements that enable today's immersive VR experiences for those that are suffering low quality of life due to high stress loads at work and such.

We believe that the future of VR (and AR) will find its way into providing quality of life via continued future innovation beyond the VR surgeries of today. Cheers to the innovators and futurists that keep improving upon the innovations of the past. And thanks to those that were ahead of their times.

References

1. Bayer, M. J., Rash, C. E., & Brindle, J. L. (2009). The Development of Helmet-Mounted Displays: A Brief History. Retrieved from [National Center for Biotechnology Information](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

2. Philco Headsight: The First Head-Mounted Display. Retrieved from [Virtual Reality Society](https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality/history.html)

3. The Sword of Damocles: The First VR Headset. Retrieved from [IEEE Spectrum](https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-sword-of-damocles-the-first-vr-headset)

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Peak Mind remains at the forefront of leveraging VR technology to advance mental well-being, drawing on a rich history of innovation to create new possibilities for immersive therapeutic experiences. Next up - Augmented Reality using cutting edge AR glasses recently released following their CES 2024 debut.

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