The Story of Human–Computer Interaction

Abstract This chapter steps through the history of spatial computing, exploring its evolution from da Vinci’s artistic pursuits to the emerging metaverse. It starts by discussing Charles Wheatstone’s pioneering stereoscopic image viewer of 1838—a breakthrough in capturing reality more vividly. It then delves into Oliver Wendell Holmes’s insights into immersive experiences and highlights the advancements made from life-like simulations to the realm of boundless imagination. It examines the impact of early innovators like Morton Heilig, Ivan Sutherland, and Tom Furness and emphasizes their shared goal of harmonizing human experience with technology. This chapter also explores the artistic endeavors of Brazilian visionaries Lygia Clark and Hélio Oiticica, which mirror Sutherland’s quest for profound human connections through technology. The chapter finishes by discussing the development of the Oculus Rift in 2011, which marked the initial surge in consumer spatial computing. With tech giants like Meta and Apple steering this next wave of development, spatial computing is poised to become an integral part of our everyday lives.