Virtuality: The First Glimpse Into VR Technology

In 1991 the first glimpse into commercialised 3D Visualisation Technology was made when ‘W Industries’ (Later known is Virtuality Inc.) released the arcade variant of the ‘1000SU’ VR Machine known as the ‘1000CS.’ For around $60,000 USD ($130,789 with Inflation) the 1000CS was designed to capitalise on the gaming demographic.

Come 1994 the introduction of the updated ‘2000SU’ series with Real-Time texture mapped computer graphics, improved headset now 800x600 pixels per eye & other enhanced graphics capabilities. Players can stand up and turn freely, utilising 360 degree movement capability in the virtual world.

The machine itself was powered by the 33 MHz Intel 486DX microprocessor with a single-board computer based host - a Virtuality proprietary card, known as the Expality PIX 1000, was used for graphics processing. The card contained two Motorola 88110 RISC processors, 8 MB of DRAM and 4 MB of VRAM. The graphics processors also used a secondary card for analogue video output to the headset & it was even possible to enhance the system performance by adding additional graphics processing cards.

Virtuality had a vision for the new world of consumer VR technology, drawing from extensive research & development into what would become a relic of a time when the virtual world was full of mystery and possibility.

As the rise of at-home gaming began to shift into a decline of Arcade Sales the company entered bankruptcy in 1997, arcade assets being sold to ‘Cybermind Interactive Europe.’ Around 1,200 Virtuality arcade machines were in use at this time. Those assets were acquired again by ‘Arcadian VR’ in 2004 & once more in 2012 by ‘VirtuosityTech.’

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[Product images sourced from Virtuality Inc. @ www.virtuality.com - used non commercially.]