{"id":317,"date":"2021-11-10T13:18:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T13:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/?p=317"},"modified":"2026-06-29T13:47:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T13:47:25","slug":"a-history-of-xr-cross-reality-part-1-of-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/?p=317","title":{"rendered":"A History of XR Cross Reality Part 1 of 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Decorative<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.\u201d ~Winston Churchill.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This
\n the first of six articles describing a history of cross reality,
\notherwise known as mixed reality or XR, which encompasses the fields of
\nvirtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and virtual worlds (VW). I
\n have used the lens of science fiction as my time travel machine. This
\nis not meant as an exhaustive history, as I purposely chose my timeline.
\n Also in this effort, I engaged pattern-seeking from design research to
\nsharpen my prediction skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

These articles started with two
\nrecent research efforts: 1) an invitation to present on any topic at a
\nlocal university and 2) a project to forecast the future of XR
\ntechnology. As a result, I decided to craft a story, the history of XR.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Said another way, there is a reason this article series is called “A History…”. It is because it is one chosen<\/i> history. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are many possible others. For example, some will trace a purely technological history and start with Morton Heilig’s Sensorama device<\/a>. Others will trace the use of alternative realities and perhaps start with flight simulators.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I went to find the origins of science fiction, my research indicated that I should start first with paleo futurism. Paleo futurism<\/b>
\n is the study of how, in the past, we envisioned the future. Said
\nanother way, we have guessed about the future before. How good are we at
\n guessing? Once I did some research in paleo futurism<\/a>, I found that I needed to look to utopian\/dystopian literature<\/b> as the origins of alternative realities in human thought.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Photo by Constantinos Kollias<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/span>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

That brings our time machine’s first stop back to 380 B.C.<\/b> and Plato\u2019s Republic<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=1181161<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

This
\n is argued to be the first instance of humankind writing about an
\nalternative reality for themselves. Plato focused this reality not on
\ncity planning or public education, but on the concept of justice<\/i><\/b>. Plato
\n pitted 4 different definitions of justice against each other to see how
\n humanity fared. At least up until 1900, it is a very strong bet that
\nthe rest of our science fiction sources know of this foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Note:
\nthere may be non-Western roots of alternative realities that go further
\nback than 380 B.C. My choice to start with Plato simply reflects a place
\n where I was comfortable starting.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Our next stop is the early 1500s A.D.<\/b> What was happening on Earth?<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbus
\n had made 2 journeys to the \u201cNew World\u201d Undoubtedly, knowledge that new
\nlands had been discovered was spreading across Europe. The slave trade
\nhad begun.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Drawing<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bry, Theodor de,, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The Pacific Ocean had just been discovered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Globalism is on the rise. Colonialism is not far behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n 1516, under King Henry the 8th, Brian Tuke was established as the first
\n Master of the Posts, the progenitor of the Royal Mail.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Germany, a law established that only water, barley, and hops are the allowed ingredients to make beer.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n China, the Nantan meteorite fell to Earth. The fall of this meteorite
\nwas eye-witnessed by a farmer in a field and it was a rare iron-nickel
\nmeteorite.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the final battles for the Holy Land was won by the Ottomans, establishing the Ottoman empire.<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n Aztecs were in their post classical period. This image is from the
\nAztec sun stone, showing the belief in a cyclical calendar. We’ll see
\ncycles<\/b> later as a key to prediction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The
\n first social housing was established in Bavaria\u2014which still exists
\ntoday. Originally to live here, you had to have been a city resident for
\n the two prior years, have no source of income, and be a
\nCatholic. Widowed mothers were the primary residents.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Venice, the first Jewish ghetto was established by law.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n Florence, the first uffizi (office) was established for workers to come
\n to on a daily basis to do their work for the first \u201ccorporation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/span><\/div>\n

I’ve brought up all of these elements to show that humanity was in flux, in a period of change when new ideas were flooding many different cultures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, in 1516 Thomas More published Utopia<\/a>, the progenitor of science fiction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Folger Shakespeare Library, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

As
\n I researched, I learned that the definition of utopia was not our
\ncurrent meaning of perfection or “Eden.” Thomas More intended “Utopia”
\nto mean “nowhere” or “a place that does not exist.” The book was a
\ncommentary that both supported and criticized socialism. Utopia had a
\nruler for life but after he died, there is an election for a new
\nruler. There was shared work, food, clothing, land, etc. Punishment for
\ncrime, however, was severe. We would not recognize More\u2019s concept of
\njustice today. Residents dug away at a peninsular to form the island of
\nUtopia. Interestingly, Utopia is not isolated for there are still ships
\nto other nations. <\/span><\/p>\n

The very next year after Utopia was published,
\nMartin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door and Canada was
\ndiscovered via the St. Lawrence River. This was a world deep in
\nchange: new worlds, new religions, globalization, and also segregation
\nand slavery.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we have our foundation of humans engaging with alternative realities. On to Part 2<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 1 380 B.C. to 1880 <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2 1881 to 1909<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 3 1910 to 1965<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 4 1966 – 1998<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 5 1999 – 2013<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 6  2014 – Future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

#Quotes
\n #WinstonChurchill #Reality #CrossReality #MixedReality #VirtualReality
\n#AugmentedReality #VirtualWorlds #Design #Plato #Republic #Utopia
\n#ThomasMore #1516 #Transmedia #XR #VR #AR #ARVRinEdu #EdTech #Innovation
\n #Athens #Globalization #Change<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

This article was originally posted to LinkedIn on November 17, 2019. Updated on February 24, 2026 with some slighted clarified writing, changed font, and re-added images.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Decorative<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward.\u201d ~Winston Churchill.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This
\n the first of six articles describing a history of cross reality,
\notherwise known as mixed reality or XR, which encompasses the fields of
\nvirtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and virtual worlds (VW). I
\n have used the lens of science fiction as my time travel machine. This
\nis not meant as an exhaustive history, as I purposely chose my timeline.
\n Also in this effort, I engaged pattern-seeking from design research to
\nsharpen my prediction skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

These articles started with two
\nrecent research efforts: 1) an invitation to present on any topic at a
\nlocal university and 2) a project to forecast the future of XR
\ntechnology. As a result, I decided to craft a story, the history of XR.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Said another way, there is a reason this article series is called “A History…”. It is because it is one chosen<\/i> history. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are many possible others. For example, some will trace a purely technological history and start with Morton Heilig’s Sensorama device<\/a>. Others will trace the use of alternative realities and perhaps start with flight simulators.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I went to find the origins of science fiction, my research indicated that I should start first with paleo futurism. Paleo futurism<\/b>
\n is the study of how, in the past, we envisioned the future. Said
\nanother way, we have guessed about the future before. How good are we at
\n guessing? Once I did some research in paleo futurism<\/a>, I found that I needed to look to utopian\/dystopian literature<\/b> as the origins of alternative realities in human thought.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Photo by Constantinos Kollias<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/span>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

That brings our time machine’s first stop back to 380 B.C.<\/b> and Plato\u2019s Republic<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Public Domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=1181161<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

This
\n is argued to be the first instance of humankind writing about an
\nalternative reality for themselves. Plato focused this reality not on
\ncity planning or public education, but on the concept of justice<\/i><\/b>. Plato
\n pitted 4 different definitions of justice against each other to see how
\n humanity fared. At least up until 1900, it is a very strong bet that
\nthe rest of our science fiction sources know of this foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Note:
\nthere may be non-Western roots of alternative realities that go further
\nback than 380 B.C. My choice to start with Plato simply reflects a place
\n where I was comfortable starting.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Our next stop is the early 1500s A.D.<\/b> What was happening on Earth?<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbus
\n had made 2 journeys to the \u201cNew World\u201d Undoubtedly, knowledge that new
\nlands had been discovered was spreading across Europe. The slave trade
\nhad begun.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Drawing<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bry, Theodor de,, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The Pacific Ocean had just been discovered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Globalism is on the rise. Colonialism is not far behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n 1516, under King Henry the 8th, Brian Tuke was established as the first
\n Master of the Posts, the progenitor of the Royal Mail.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Germany, a law established that only water, barley, and hops are the allowed ingredients to make beer.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n China, the Nantan meteorite fell to Earth. The fall of this meteorite
\nwas eye-witnessed by a farmer in a field and it was a rare iron-nickel
\nmeteorite.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the final battles for the Holy Land was won by the Ottomans, establishing the Ottoman empire.<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\n Aztecs were in their post classical period. This image is from the
\nAztec sun stone, showing the belief in a cyclical calendar. We’ll see
\ncycles<\/b> later as a key to prediction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gary Todd, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The
\n first social housing was established in Bavaria\u2014which still exists
\ntoday. Originally to live here, you had to have been a city resident for
\n the two prior years, have no source of income, and be a
\nCatholic. Widowed mothers were the primary residents.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Venice, the first Jewish ghetto was established by law.<\/span><\/p>\n

In
\n Florence, the first uffizi (office) was established for workers to come
\n to on a daily basis to do their work for the first \u201ccorporation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/span><\/div>\n

I’ve brought up all of these elements to show that humanity was in flux, in a period of change when new ideas were flooding many different cultures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, in 1516 Thomas More published Utopia<\/a>, the progenitor of science fiction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Folger Shakespeare Library, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

As
\n I researched, I learned that the definition of utopia was not our
\ncurrent meaning of perfection or “Eden.” Thomas More intended “Utopia”
\nto mean “nowhere” or “a place that does not exist.” The book was a
\ncommentary that both supported and criticized socialism. Utopia had a
\nruler for life but after he died, there is an election for a new
\nruler. There was shared work, food, clothing, land, etc. Punishment for
\ncrime, however, was severe. We would not recognize More\u2019s concept of
\njustice today. Residents dug away at a peninsular to form the island of
\nUtopia. Interestingly, Utopia is not isolated for there are still ships
\nto other nations. <\/span><\/p>\n

The very next year after Utopia was published,
\nMartin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the cathedral door and Canada was
\ndiscovered via the St. Lawrence River. This was a world deep in
\nchange: new worlds, new religions, globalization, and also segregation
\nand slavery.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we have our foundation of humans engaging with alternative realities. On to Part 2<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 1 380 B.C. to 1880 <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2 1881 to 1909<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 3 1910 to 1965<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 4 1966 – 1998<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 5 1999 – 2013<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 6  2014 – Future<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

#Quotes
\n #WinstonChurchill #Reality #CrossReality #MixedReality #VirtualReality
\n#AugmentedReality #VirtualWorlds #Design #Plato #Republic #Utopia
\n#ThomasMore #1516 #Transmedia #XR #VR #AR #ARVRinEdu #EdTech #Innovation
\n #Athens #Globalization #Change<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

This article was originally posted to LinkedIn on November 17, 2019. Updated on February 24, 2026 with some slighted clarified writing, changed font, and re-added images.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Continue reading “A History of XR Cross Reality Part 1 of 6”<\/span>…<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[102,72,27,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-research","category-vr","category-xr","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=317"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":326,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions\/326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cogitateandpercolate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}