Cruz-Neira, Sandin and DeFanti Begin Developing CAVE

Carolina Cruz-Neira, Daniel J. Sandin and Thomas A. DeFanti, with Robert V. Kenyon and John C. Hart, pioneered the development of the “CAVE” (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) in the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois in Chicago beginning in 1991. They would continue development until 1993. This surround-screen, surround-sound, projection-based virtual reality (VR) system transformed immersive experiences. The CAVE featured 3D computer graphics projected into a 10'x10'x9' cube, with display screens surrounding the viewer. Users were able to explore the virtual world without wearing helmets thanks to lightweight stereo glasses and a wand-like device. Designed for scientific visualization, the CAVE enabled collaborative exploration and discussions among users, making it a transformative tool for scientific discovery.