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What was VPL Research's EyePhone headset?

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early head-mounted display device — virtual reality Early head-mounted display device developed by Ivan Sutherland at Harvard University, c. 1967.

The EyePhone was a head-mounted display (HMD) developed by VPL Research, a company co-founded in 1985 by Jaron Lanier and other researchers, including Thomas Zimmerman and Scott Fisher.

As part of VPL’s suite of virtual reality technologies, the EyePhone was designed to provide an immersive visual experience for users. It was introduced during a period of significant development in the VR industry, alongside other VPL innovations such as the VPL DataGlove and the DataSuit, a full-body motion-tracking system. These components were often integrated into VPL's shared virtual reality system known as RB2 ("Reality Built for Two").

The EyePhone and VPL's broader product line gained significant public attention in 1989, when the company and Autodesk demonstrated what were among the first commercial virtual reality systems. This marketing push helped popularize the term "virtual reality" and established the HMD as a central, iconic piece of hardware in the early evolution of VR technology.