ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
2
3
YearScientist / DeveloperInnovation / ImprovementNotes
4
1960Morton HeiligPatented the Telesphere Mask, an early stereoscopic head-mounted display (HMD).Wide field-of-view, stereo sound, 3D projection — no motion tracking Wikipedia+11NextGen Invent Corporation+11Myriam Tisler+11
5
1962Morton HeiligBuilt the Sensorama, a multi-sensory VR theater complete with 3D visuals, sound, smell, vibration.Mechanical prototype of immersive cinema 42interactive.comWikipedia
6
1968Ivan Sutherland & students (Sproull, Foster…)Created the first computer-based head-mounted display, nicknamed the “Sword of Damocles.”Combined AR/VR elements with motion tracking VirtualSpeechWikipedia
7
1961Philco engineersDeveloped Headsight, the earliest HMD with magnetic head-tracking, used with live camera feeds.First VR system tracking head movement VirtualSpeech
8
1979Eric HowlettDeveloped the LEEP optics, a wide field-of-view stereoscopic display system.Provided immersive depth and realism Wikipedia
9
1978Cruz‑Neira et al. (EVL, U. Illinois)Created CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), a multi-wall immersive projection room.Offered room-scale VR with body presence Wikipedia
10
1984Jaron LanierFounded VPL Research, coined “virtual reality,” and commercialized VR hardware (EyePhone HMD, DataGlove).Brought VR into public awareness VirtualSpeechVirtual Reality SocietyWikipedia
11
1993Dr Albert Rizzo & teamDeployed VR in PTSD therapy, using immersive simulations for exposure therapy.Early clinical application VirtualSpeechWikipediaWikipedia
12
1992SegaAnnounced and partially released Sega VR prototype (Genesis HMD, inertial tracking).First consumer-level VR headset VirtualSpeechWikipedia
13
1995Nintendo (Gunpei Yokoi)Released Virtual Boy, a stereoscopic 3D gaming console/stand.Ambitious but commercially unsuccessful VirtualSpeechWikipedia
14
2010Palmer Luckey (& Oculus team)Assembled the first Oculus Rift prototype with 90° FOV and low-distortion optics.Laid foundation for modern consumer VR WikipediaWikipedia
15
2012Oculus VR (Luckey, Carmack)Kickstarted development of Oculus Rift, later acquired by Facebook (2014).Sparked the modern VR boom WikipediaWikipedia
16
2016SonyAnnounced Project Morpheus (PlayStation VR).Major console entry into VR Myriam TislerWikipedia
17
2019Oculus (Meta)Released Oculus Quest standalone headset (6DoF, full room tracking, no PC/console).Popularized wireless consumer VR 42interactive.comMyriam TislerWikipedia
18
2022MetaLaunched Meta Quest Pro: mixed reality headset with eye/face tracking & pancake lenses.Blended real and virtual in advanced MR system Wikipedia
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100