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Through the Eyes of Headsight

Writer's picture: Andrew MorrissAndrew Morriss

In 1961 two Philco Corporation engineers, Comeau & Bryan, developed the first

Head Mounted Display (HMD) known as the Headsight.

Image of Headsight upon release
Headsight - November, 1961

Initially developed for

military use to allow for immersive viewing of dangerous situations, it featured a

projected screen for each eye with a magnetic tracking system used to track head movements which corresponded with a remote camera. The Headsight also featured a omni-directional treadmill with ball bearings that allowed the person strapped to the Headsight to feel as if they were moving or turning.




Full Headsight Setup

The Headsight was a big milestone in VR history as it was the first motion tracking head mounted display. This exhibit will showcase a room filled with seemingly blank screens. When entering, you will be given a set of ‘goggles’ that resemble the initial design of the Headsight. The exhibit will be extremely simple looking on the outside, a simple room with computer with the walls covered from ceiling to floor with computer monitors for displays.

Image of Polarized Film Glasses
Image of Polarized Film Glasses - YT Channel "brusspup"

These ‘goggles’ will contain polarized film that allow the wearer to see what is on the screens. On the screens the history of VR and the Headsight will be displayed, and the wearer of the mock Headsight will be able to move their head around to view what is being displayed as if it were 3D. Through this exhibit the participant will be able to experience what the Headsight was through the 'goggles' and how it felt to use them, while also learning more about the history of the Headsight and Virtual Reality as a whole.


This is a video that showcases the 3D video function that will be in this exhibit.

Video 'If we open reality.exe?' by YouTube Channel Disrupt


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