Human interface technology pioneer Dr. Tom Furness recently joined Envelop VR, an enterprise software company leader in the field of virtual reality, as its Senior Scientific Advisor.
Furness, also known as the “grandfather of virtual reality,” received the first-ever lifetime achievement award for his 50-year service to this futuristic industry last month, at the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, California. “The power of virtual worlds is not in the achievement of technological capabilities, but in the creative possibilities of the human imagination that transform the limits of reality,” Dr. Furness recently said.
Virtual reality for beginners
The promise of virtual reality has always been colossal. According to an in-depth report published by The Verge, “born of technology, virtual reality at its core is an organic experience.” In a man meets machine scenario, “what happens is strictly within the mind,” the authors of the study said.
The modern concept on virtual reality, born in the fifties, was initially pursued by the military that has used the technology for war simulation for years. A small crew of inventors, revisited the “utopian ideals of a VR universe,” in the late ’80s and early ’90s, The Verge reported.
Making virtual reality an empowering tool for mankind
Furness’ work is credited as some of the earliest in developing virtual and augmented reality. Furness is now exploring the next generation of augmenting human potential with profound and ubiquitous virtual world experiences. Much of the product technology that is now being popularised ranging from Oculus Rift, Magic Leap, Google Glass, and Microsoft HoloLens is based, in part, by early inventions and demonstrations that Furness and his protégés created over the decades.
“His research and development of new interfaces have laid the foundations for virtual reality as we know it today,” Envelop VR said. Bob Berry, Envelop VR’s co-founder and CEO added that having access to Furness’ mindshare “is an added bonus” for his team moving forward in the universe of virtual reality.
The future of VR
Furness said that he has chosen to work with Envelop VR because the company is developing the most essential component for the future of the VR industry.” Founded in 2014, Envelop VR is creating productivity and enterprise software that enables businesses and consumers to create, work and play in an immersive, 3D environment.
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