“It is a delightful characteristic of these times, that new and cheap means are continuously being devised, for conveying the results of a casual experience to those who are unable to obtain such experiences for themselves; and to bring them within the reach of the people.” —Charles Dickens
E
ven amongst virtual reality enthusiasts, most people don’t realize that the first 3D viewer was developed in 1838 by
Charles Wheatstone - almost 180 years ago! Since before the popularization of television, radio, cinema, or virtual reality, people have been exploring the world through immersive stereo 3D images. Since the invention of the stereoscope, up through the mid 20th century, hundreds of thousands of stereographic photos cards were produced and distributed all over the world. Though nearly forgotten, these photo cards can again be viewed as intended, thanks to the advent of mobile VR.