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What was the VPL DataGlove used for?

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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 VPL DataGlove was a pioneering interface device designed to track a user's hand and finger movements, allowing them to interact with and manipulate objects within a virtual environment.1

Developed by VPL Research—a company co-founded by Jaron Lanier and Thomas Zimmerman—the DataGlove was brought to market in 1987. It functioned by relaying the wearer's gestures to a virtual reality system, which then translated those movements into real-time actions within the simulation. This technology was a key component of early virtual reality configurations, often used alongside head-mounted displays and other sensory equipment to create immersive experiences.1

Beyond its role in virtual reality, the concept of the data glove emerged from a desire to create intuitive interfaces for various applications, including controlling electronic musical instruments and providing alternatives to traditional keyboard-based data entry.1