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'''VPL Research''' was a company that developed and sold [[virtual reality]] products. It was one of the first virtual reality companies. It was founded by [[Jaron Lanier]] in the year +1984.<ref>{{Cite web|title=VPL Research {{!}} C-SPAN.org|url=https://www.c-span.org/organization/?112710/VPL-Research|access-date=2021-01-22|website=www.c-span.org}}</ref> In 1990, VPL Research filed for bankruptcy and in the year +1999 all of its patents were bought by [[Sun Microsystems]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Sun Snaps Up Original VR Patents|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/1998/02/sun-snaps-up-original-vr-patents/|access-date=2021-01-22|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

'''VPL Research''' was a company that made [[virtual reality]] products. It was one of the first virtual reality companies. It was founded by [[Jaron Lanier]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=VPL Research {{!}} C-SPAN.org|url=https://www.c-span.org/organization/?112710/VPL-Research|access-date=2021-01-22|website=www.c-span.org}}</ref> "VPL" stood for "Virtual Programming Languages".<ref>{{Citation |last=Burbules |first=Nicholas C. |title=Rethinking the Virtual |date=2006 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3803-7_1 |work=The International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments |pages=37–58 |editor-last=Weiss |editor-first=Joel |access-date=2023-10-12 |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-3803-7_1 |isbn=978-1-4020-3803-7 |editor2-last=Nolan |editor2-first=Jason |editor3-last=Hunsinger |editor3-first=Jeremy |editor4-last=Trifonas |editor4-first=Peter}}</ref> VPL developed some of the first commercial head-mounted displays, called [[EyePhone]]. It built upon the work of [[LEEP Systems]].

"VPL" stood for "Virtual Programming Languages".<ref>{{Citation |last=Burbules |first=Nicholas C. |title=Rethinking the Virtual |date=2006 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3803-7_1 |work=The International Handbook of Virtual Learning Environments |pages=37–58 |editor-last=Weiss |editor-first=Joel |access-date=2023-10-12 |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-3803-7_1 |isbn=978-1-4020-3803-7 |editor2-last=Nolan |editor2-first=Jason |editor3-last=Hunsinger |editor3-first=Jeremy |editor4-last=Trifonas |editor4-first=Peter}}</ref>  

VPL Research filed for bankruptcy. Eventually all of its patents were bought by [[Sun Microsystems]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Sun Snaps Up Original VR Patents|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/1998/02/sun-snaps-up-original-vr-patents/|access-date=2021-01-22|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref name="z100">{{cite web | title=False Starts Aside, Virtual Reality Finds New Roles | website=archive.nytimes.com | url=http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/98/03/biztech/articles/23virtual.html | access-date=2024-09-11}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19981205015335/http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/10296.html</ref>

VPL's funding came in part from [[Marvin Minsky]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Virtual reality: spreadsheets for industry - tutorial |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222002357if_/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0REL/is_n10_v90/ai_9543499/pg_6 |website=BNET |publisher=CBS |access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

VPL's funding came in part from [[Marvin Minsky]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Virtual reality: spreadsheets for industry - tutorial |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222002357if_/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0REL/is_n10_v90/ai_9543499/pg_6 |website=BNET |publisher=CBS |access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

==Products==

==Products==

===The DataGlove===

===EyePhone===

The DataGlove originally started as an input system for computers. It was later used for virtual reality systems. [[Thomas G. Zimmerman|Thomas Zimmerman]] invented the prototype of the DataGlove and began looking for other people to help work on it. The device used 6502 microcontrollers. Zimmerman met [[Mitch Altman]] and asked him to join VPL part-time because Altman knew how to program the microcontrollers.<ref>{{cite video |people=Altman, Mitch |publisher=Terndrup, Matthew |title=An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrRO_j_efg#t=2148}}</ref>

[[EyePhone]] is a series of head mounted displays (HMDs) that are meant to immerse users into a computer simulation. They can track head movements. The original headset used [[Fresnel lens|Fresnel lenses]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Delaney|first1=Ben|title=Sex, Drugs and Tessellation: The Truth About Virtual Reality, as Revealed in the Pages of CyberEdge Journal|date=2014 |isbn=978-1500893293|page=274|publisher=CyberEdge Information Services |url=http://www.bendelaney.com/services.writer.sd&t.html}}</ref>

The system was wired to a computer. It was interactive and contained fiber-optic bundles to track movements and orientation. That data would then be transmitted to the computer so that the information could be duplicated virtually. It allowed for people to manipulate and re-orient virtual objects. Applications for this wearable device centered on input computer control, gaming, and also the potential for remote surgery.

The DataGlove originally started as an input system for computers. It was later used for virtual reality systems. [[Thomas G. Zimmerman|Thomas Zimmerman]] invented the prototype of the DataGlove and began looking for other people to help work on it. The gadget used 6502 microcontrollers. Zimmerman met [[Mitch Altman]] and asked him to join VPL part-time because Altman knew how to program the microcontrollers.<ref>{{cite video |people=Altman, Mitch |publisher=Terndrup, Matthew |title=An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrRO_j_efg#t=2148}}</ref>

===The EyePhone===

The system was wired to a computer. It was interactive and contained fiber-optic bundles to track movements and orientation. That data would then be transmitted to the computer so that the information could be duplicated virtually. It allowed for people to manipulate and re-orient virtual objects. Applications for this wearable gadget centered on input computer control, gaming, and also the potential for remote surgery.

The EyePhone is a head mounted display (HMD) that was meant to immerse users into a computer simulation. It could track head movements. The headset used [[Fresnel lens|Fresnel lenses]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Delaney|first1=Ben|title=Sex, Drugs and Tessellation: The Truth About Virtual Reality, as Revealed in the Pages of CyberEdge Journal|date=2014 |isbn=978-1500893293|page=274|publisher=CyberEdge Information Services |url=http://www.bendelaney.com/services.writer.sd&t.html}}</ref>

===The DataSuit===

===Software===

* [[Isaac]]<ref name="b960">{{cite web | title=The New RB2 Pro Virtual Reality System : VPL Research : Internet Archive | website=Internet Archive | date=2016-10-23 | url=https://archive.org/details/VPL_promo_material_RB2Pro | access-date=2024-09-11}}</ref>

 

===DataSuit===

The DataSuit is a full-body outfit with sensors for measuring the movement of arms, legs, and trunk.

The DataSuit is a full-body outfit with sensors for measuring the movement of arms, legs, and trunk.

* Chuck Blanchard

* Chuck Blanchard

* Steve Bryson

* Steve Bryson

* Young Harvill – In his spare time, Harvill created a program called Swivel 3D which was used for creating computer art. It gave the users the ability to generate virtual worlds on a Macintosh computer. He licensed that software to VPL. Shortly after, Harvill joined VPL as their fourth employee in the year +1985. During his time there, he worked on a project called "Reality Built for Two (RB2)" which was the first VR system at that time. He also helped with the Data Glove as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Techie Entrepreneurs – Young Harvill|url=http://www.evergreen.edu/magazine/2008spring/harvill|publisher=Evergreen Magazine|date=2015-06-17}}</ref>

* Young Harvill – In his spare time, Harvill created a program called Swivel 3D which was used for creating computer art. It gave the users the ability to generate virtual worlds on a Macintosh computer. He licensed that software to VPL. Shortly after, Harvill joined VPL as their fourth employee in the year 1985. During his time there, he worked on a project called "Reality Built for Two (RB2)" which was the first VR system at that time. He also helped with the Data Glove as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Techie Entrepreneurs – Young Harvill|url=http://www.evergreen.edu/magazine/2008spring/harvill|publisher=Evergreen Magazine|date=2015-06-17}}</ref>

* Jeff Wright – Worked with Lanier and Blanchard on the Embrace visual programing language from 1988 to 1991. In his Dec. 1989 Computer Graphics World article "Altered States: a software developer's vision of the future of virtual reality" he asked, "What would it mean for people to be able to choose and create their own reality?" speculating that it would "... make people aware of the fact that they already do that, whether or not they realize it, in the natural construction of ordinary reality."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Altered States: a software developer's vision of the future of virtual reality|language=en-us|work=Computer Graphics World|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A7942350/AONE?u=spl_main&sid=AONE&xid=0db4bab5|access-date= 2020-06-15|issn=0271-4159}}</ref>  

* Jeff Wright – Worked with Lanier and Blanchard on the Embrace visual programing language from 1988 to 1991. In his Dec. 1989 Computer Graphics World article "Altered States: a software developer's vision of the future of virtual reality" he asked, "What would it mean for people to be able to choose and create their own reality?" speculating that it would "... make people aware of the fact that they already do that, whether or not they realize it, in the natural construction of ordinary reality."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Altered States: a software developer's vision of the future of virtual reality|language=en-us|work=Computer Graphics World|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A7942350/AONE?u=spl_main&sid=AONE&xid=0db4bab5|access-date= 2020-06-15|issn=0271-4159}}</ref>  

* David Levitt

* David Levitt

* Jean-Jacques Grimaud - Co-founder, President, VP of Engineering<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-jacques-grimaud/0/35/54/en |title=Jean-Jacques Linkedin Profile Page}}</ref>

* Jean-Jacques Grimaud - Co-founder, President, VP of Engineering<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-jacques-grimaud/0/35/54/en |title=Jean-Jacques Linkedin Profile Page}}</ref>

;Associated people

;Associated people

* [[Timothy Leary]] – When Leary got out of jail, he was interested in finding legal ways to explore consciousness which led him to working with individuals at VPL.<ref>{{cite video |people=Altman, Mitch |publisher=Terndrup, Matthew |title=An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrRO_j_efg#t=4611}}</ref>

* [[Timothy Leary]] – Leary was interested in finding ways to explore consciousness which led him to working with individuals at VPL.<ref>{{cite video |people=Altman, Mitch |publisher=Terndrup, Matthew |title=An Interview with Mitch Altman (Inventor and Virtual Reality Pioneer from the 80's) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TrRO_j_efg#t=4611}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

==In popular culture==

*The Data Suit and EyePhone were featured in the 1992 science fiction film ''[[The Lawnmower Man (film)|The Lawnmower Man]]''.

* The Data Suit and EyePhone were featured in the 1992 science fiction film ''[[The Lawnmower Man (film)|The Lawnmower Man]]''.

==References==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Reflist}}