Virtual Reality (VR) has come a long way since its humble beginnings with stereoscopic images in the 1800s. Today, VR offers an immersive and interactive 3D environment that allows users to experience something beyond the real world. But what makes a successful VR experience, and how did it evolve to become what it is today? From the first head-mounted display in the 1960s to the latest high-resolution displays and motion controllers, let's explore the history of VR and its expanding ecosystem of hardware, software, and content creators.

What is Virtual Reality? 

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated and immersive experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world—the possibilities are endless. VR experiences are usually created with computer technology and presented to the user through VR headsets or displays, which creates an immersive and interactive three-dimensional environment. In an ideal VR experience, users should be able to interact with the environment as if it were tangible, to walk around and touch objects like in the real world. 

When VR is done well, it’s dazzling and delightful—we can experience something far beyond the real world. However, when VR is poorly done, users can become frustrated and get sick (also called VR sickness). Sometimes, technology is to blame for hardware limitations. But for the most part, the failings of a VR experience come when we overlook UX design principles. A user-centered design approach is essential for a successful VR experience.

VR Through the Ages

VR has been in our imagination for as long as humans have been able to express themselves; discover the evolution of VR in this video—learn where it came from and where it’s going. 

Virtual Reality: A Field in Transition

The VR industry expanded rapidly. In the early 2000s, VR was out of reach for the regular user. In the 2020s, there are a wide range of hardware options. From standalone headsets to tethered setups and smartphone-based systems, major players like Oculus, HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation VR, Apple Vision Pro and Valve Index have made their mark in the market. These advancements in hardware provide users with various choices to experience virtual reality.

VR technology has made significant strides to deliver enhanced immersive experiences. Virtual environments now offer heightened realism and precision with high-resolution displays, improved tracking systems, and advanced motion controllers. The integration of haptic feedback, eye-tracking technologies and spatial audio further enhances immersion, presence and interaction possibilities, which make VR experiences more engaging and captivating than ever before.

Beyond gaming and entertainment, VR has found diverse applications in industries such as healthcare, education, architecture, engineering, training simulations, marketing, and social experiences. From medical training simulations and social VR applications to virtual tours of architectural designs and the metaverse, VR is revolutionizing how these industries operate and deliver experiences. These developments in VR allow us to create experiences that can delight, inform and engage our user in more meaningful ways than other mediums.

The Take Away

VR experiences can be realistic and fantastical. This medium immerses users in interactive three-dimensional environments. As a designer, you must employ a user-centered design approach to create successful VR experiences. 

VR traces back to the 1800s with the advent of stereoscopic images. Advancements in computer technology and human-computer interaction in the 1980s and 1990s led to the evolution of modern VR. With developments in improved display technology and affordability, VR experienced a resurgence. Major players like Oculus, HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation VR, and Valve Index offer a range of hardware options that cater to different user needs. VR has also found applications beyond gaming and entertainment, helping industries such as healthcare, education, architecture, engineering, and more.

With VR we can create experiences that captivate and engage users in ways that surpass traditional mediums. However, to achieve a successful VR experience you should consider factors like intuitive interactions, user comfort, and emotional connections.

References and Where to Learn More

The first section of Jason Jerald’s The VR Book: Human-Centered Design for Virtual Reality provides a comprehensive history of VR. 

AI Magazine discusses the evolution of VR headsets in this article.

Check out Virtual Speech’s VR timeline.

Get a broader view of the history of spatial computing and XR in Cornel Hillmann’s book UX for XR: User Experience Design and Strategies for Immersive Technologies.

Hero image: © Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0