The trending rise in VR technology in UK and worldwide was preceded by decades of scientific research which consisted of endless prototypes from weird goggles to absurd headsets. Virtual reality is currently experiencing a renaissance, especially in the gaming sector. VR technology is no longer hocus-pocus, but a reality that people all over the world can benefit from.
Putting on a headset and being transported into an exotic parallel universe is now a real possibility and one enjoyed by many. But what are the roots this virtual reality tech which people are so hungry for? The humble beginnings of VR are not exactly known, but this article puts together an historical timeline of how VR technology as we know it today came to be.
Early days of VR Technology
The beginnings of VR technology can be traced back to the 1800s. Sir Charles Wheatstone, born 6 February 1802, was a professor of experimental philosophy. He was key to the development of VR in the early days. Wheatstone is the godfather of VR and 3D.
He developed the stereoscope in 1830 - a device which creates three-dimensional images by tricking the brain into seeing 3D from certain angles. The design principles of the Stereoscope can be seen today in the popular Google Cardboard and low budget VR head mounted displays for mobile phones.
At the time, Antonin Artaud, a progressive writer, was talking about the possibilities of virtual reality. This becomes evident in his work on theatrical stages as well as in his plays written during that period.
30s VR Technology
The first signs of VR gear for your face in order to experience the “Virtual Reality” came to light when the View-Master came out. The View-Master was the first set of VR googles. Patented in 1939, the View-Master allowed people to watch seven stereoscopic 3D pairs of small transparent colour photographs on film.
60s VR Technology
We need to fast forward to the 1962 to find when the concept of virtual reality was really put through it’s paces. Morton Heilig was a true visionary in terms of the potential capabilities of VR and delivered the first true immersive experience to users. He was a talented cameraman who created Sensorama. The Sensorama designed and built by Morton built was developed to give viewers a sensory cinematic experience. The device contained innovative features like 3D optics, widescreen, stereo sound, aromas, wind and vibrations.
Ivan Sutherland is another notable pioneer in the VR field. He created the first video screen that was worn on the head. The device, also known as HMD and Sword of Damocles, was built in Ivan’s laboratory in 1968.
Sutherland was smart and super talented. Dubbed a computer genius, he knew how to push boundaries. Without a doubt Sutherland’s contributions to modern VR, as we know know it, are significant.
80s VR Technology
The 1980s saw significant developments in VR technology. The most important contribution was made by the US government, which was responsible for many vehicle, flight and space simulators. These simulators were used for military training purposes. In parallel with the development of more powerful computers, the concept of VR continued to develop.
In 1985 NASA made significant progress with the “Virtual Environment Workstation”. NASA’s headset and data gloves were the first in the world and continue to be much revered in the VR world today.
In 1987, The Jaron Lanier one of virtual reality’s most recognisable figures and a member of the team that worked on NASA’s Virtual Environment Workstation project, coined the term “Virtual Reality” for the first time when developing VR Gear.
Another pioneer, Randy Pausch, was an integral part of the history of virtual reality. For many, he was considered a creative genius and gifted motivator. Randy was a teacher and iconic figure on Disney’s imagineering team. While at Disney, he helped create the Aladdin VR experience. This virtual reality experience took visitors on a thrilling journey on the magic carpet. The Aladdin VR experience utilises a headset that fitted all users. In the years that followed, this was a huge innovation in technology and development for Disney.
90s To Present Day
During the 1990s VR video games became more common. However, they were only found in arcades and at selected venues. In 1991 Sega developed a VR system. Unfortunately, it was never presented to the public. Sega’s VR glasses made their debut at CES in the mid-1990s and were an extension of the Sega Mega Drive. A release date was never announced to gamers, and it never went on sale.
After Sega’s VR glasses failed, Nintendo intervened with the extremely disappointing Virtual Boy. The Virtual Boy contained a VR glasses design that was mounted on a frame. The poor design of the headset and game controls were to blame for the console’s failure. In addition to the uncomfortable gaming experience, the system only showed the VR experience in black and red. There have even been reports that Nintendo’s Virtual Boy caused severe headaches and impaired vision for players. VR technology has been evolving for many years. Other VR headsets such as Forte VFX1 and Victormaxx Stuntmaster made waves in the history of computer games. But they never reached the broad market.
Gambling Goes Online
It was in the 1990s that gambling hit the internet. The very first online casino was founded in the summer of 1994. The gaming company Microgaming created powerful and secure software. This enabled gamers to gamble online for the first time. The internet’s growth and popularity exploded overnight. It was only a matter of time before casinos wanted to get involved. What also contributed to the establishment of the first online casinos was the “Free Trade and Processing Act” in 1994. He created many new opportunities for gambling on the internet.
First Online Casinos Are Born
As time went on, more online casino companies jumped on the bandwagon. Companies like Cryptologic entered the scene. Games like poker, blackjack and other card games have been added to the online casino program. Slot machines have always been a favourite in casinos. At this point in time, a wider variety of games had been developed and offered in these very first casinos. In the summer of 1996 real money was wagered in the online casino Intercasino.
First VR Googles Produced
It wasn’t until August 2012 that a Kickstarter campaign for the Oculus Rift was launched. As a result of the Kickstarter campaign, only 100 headsets should be produced. The company received significant attention as a result and was subsequently taken over by Facebook. Right now, the Oculus Rift is the most popular and easily available VR headset on the market.
SlotsMillion VR Casino Launches
The first VR casino to go live was SlotsMillion . Players can put on their VR glasses and step into a truly realistic casino environment. All of this with a simple download to your computer. Other iGaming companies have created VR casino games and concepts in the past. But SlotsMillion were the first to offer real money stake gambling. Simple casino graphics are a thing of the past. When you step into a VR casino you feel like you are in a real casino. Obviously, VR casinos want to offer everything. It offers players’ favourite games like slots, poker, blackjack and other casino specialty games. Our review of SlotsMillion contains all the details of your interest before playing at this unique VR casino.
SlotsMillion casino is the very first VR casino where players can wager real money and win. There are also other VR casinos like “The Oculus VR Poker Game”. SlotsMillion is the only casino where players can make deposits with real money and also win real money. SlotsMillion features some of the most popular game titles from these entertainment companies. These companies are true visionaries. They help make the phenomenon of virtual reality gambling a reality. NetEnt and Microgaming are currently using the most innovative technology in the field of VR casino gambling.
Future of VR gambling online
VR gambling is more than a fad and will continue to be with us in the future. Real money virtual reality casinos will be the norm in the near future. Almost everyone will have VR hardware at home. These will provide the opportunity to play immersive games and VR casino games. In short, the VR gaming experience will become even more realistic.
Technological advances will lead VR into the future. Playing in VR casinos is both thrill and entertainment. Very soon we will see more casinos offering VR casino games and the technology will spread.
So give VR gambling a try if you can! And if it suits your taste, invest in good VR equipment! VR casinos will offer an even wider selection of titles to play with in the future. Playing fantastic casino games like slot machines or table games in VR cannot be compared to anything that players have experienced before. In summary, one can say that the future undoubtedly holds great promise for the further development of virtual reality. Players will have the opportunity to enjoy VR gambling around the world with other gamers who are also big casino fans!