Who invented Virtual Reality?

March 9, 2025, researched and prompted by Soraima

Virtual reality (VR) is often seen as a futuristic technology, with its immersive experiences gaining popularity in gaming, entertainment, and professional fields.

However, the roots of VR stretch back several decades, with visionary pioneers laying the groundwork for what would become a transformative technology.

While many minds have contributed to the evolution of VR, a few key inventors stand out for their groundbreaking work in creating the foundations of this immersive experience.

Ivan Sutherland: The Father of VR

When we talk about the invention of virtual reality, one name that consistently comes up is Ivan Sutherland. Often referred to as the "father of computer graphics," Sutherland's work in the late 1960s was pivotal in the development of VR.

In 1968, he introduced Sketchpad, one of the earliest computer graphics programs that allowed users to interact with and manipulate graphical objects on a screen. This innovation set the stage for what would later become virtual environments.

But perhaps Sutherland’s most significant contribution to VR was the creation of the "Sword of Damocles", considered the first true head-mounted display (HMD) system. This device, developed in 1968 at MIT, was an early attempt to immerse users in a virtual environment by placing a display on their head and tracking their movements.

While rudimentary by today’s standards, the Sword of Damocles was groundbreaking in its ability to simulate a virtual space, and its creation marks the beginning of the VR journey.

Video by Immersed Robot

Jaron Lanier: The Man Who Coined the Term "Virtual Reality"

While Ivan Sutherland laid the technical foundations of VR, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the term "virtual reality" began to gain traction.

Enter Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist, musician, and visionary. In 1987, Lanier founded VPL Research, one of the first companies dedicated to VR technology. He is also credited with popularizing the term "virtual reality" during this time.

Lanier’s contributions to the VR landscape were not limited to terminology; he was instrumental in developing some of the first VR systems, including the DataGlove and EyePhone. These devices allowed users to interact with the virtual world through hand and eye movements, further enhancing the immersive experience. Lanier’s work helped establish VR as a legitimate field of research and development, laying the groundwork for its future applications.

Tom Furness: Revolutionizing Military and Aviation with VR

Another key figure in the development of VR is Tom Furness, a pioneering researcher in the field of simulation and VR technology. In the 1960s and 1970s, Furness began working with the U.S. military to develop flight simulators and virtual environments for training pilots.

His efforts were instrumental in integrating VR technology into military and aviation applications, where it became an invaluable tool for training and simulation.

Furness’ work on VR simulation systems led to the creation of highly advanced training environments, such as the Super Cockpit, a VR-based flight simulator.

This work not only improved pilot training but also highlighted the potential for VR to enhance safety, decision-making, and performance in complex environments.

The Collaborative Effort Behind VR’s Rise

While Ivan Sutherland, Jaron Lanier, and Tom Furness are often seen as the leading figures in the creation of virtual reality, it's important to note that VR’s development has been a collective effort.

The field has seen contributions from scientists, engineers, and visionaries across many disciplines, from computer science to psychology and human-computer interaction.

In the decades following the work of these early pioneers, VR technology has continued to evolve, with advancements in hardware, software, and user experience. From the bulky, tethered headsets of the 1990s to the lightweight, wireless devices we use today, VR has come a long way.

The applications of VR have expanded into fields such as healthcare, education, entertainment, and even therapy, providing immersive experiences that were once thought to be the stuff of science fiction.

The Future of VR: Looking Ahead

Today, virtual reality is a thriving industry, with companies like Oculus, HTC, and Sony continuing to push the boundaries of what VR can offer. With the advent of more affordable VR systems, the technology is becoming more accessible to the general public, and the possibilities seem endless.

As we look to the future, it’s clear that the vision of those early pioneers—Sutherland, Lanier, and Furness—has been realized in ways they could have only imagined. From immersive gaming experiences to virtual meetings and beyond, VR is poised to continue reshaping how we interact with the digital world.

The contributions of these innovators remain at the heart of the VR revolution, and their work has paved the way for a new era of human-computer interaction.

In the end, the invention of virtual reality was never the work of just one person—it was a journey that took the combined efforts of many brilliant minds, all of whom believed in the power of immersive technology to change the world.