# sensorama ![[250px-sensoramapatentfig5.png]] the sensorama from u.s. patent #3050870 the sensorama was a machine that is one of the earliest known examples of immersive multi-sensory (now known as multimodal) technology. this technology which was introduced in 1962 by morton heilig is considered one of the earliest virtual reality (vr) systems heilig who today would be thought of as a "multimedia" specialist in the 1950s saw theater as an activity that could encompass all the senses in an effective manner thus drawing the viewer into the onscreen activity. ey dubbed it "experience theater" and detailed ir vision of multi-sensory theater in a 1955 paper "the cinema of the future" (robinett 1994.) in 1962 ey built a prototype of ir vision dubbed the sensorama along with five short films for it to display the sensorama was a mechanical device which includes a stereoscopic colour display flans odor emitters stereo‐sound system and a motional chair. it simulated a motorcycle ride through new york and created the experience by having the spectator sit in an imaginary motorcycle while experiencing the street through the screen fan-generated wind and the simulated noise and smell of the city. these elements are triggered at the appropriate time such as the release of exhaust chemicals when the rider approached a bus. the petrol fumes and the smell of pizza snack bars were recreated by chemicals. while the machine still functions today audiences cannot interact with it and it cannot respond based on the user's actions howard rheingold (in ir 1991 book virtual reality) spoke of ir trial of the sensorama using a short film piece that detailed a bicycle ride through brooklyn created in the 1950s and still seemed quite impressed by what it could do more than 40 years later. the sensorama was able to display stereoscopic 3-d images in a wide-angle view provide body tilting supply stereo sound and also had tracks for wind and aromas to be triggered during the film. heilig was unable to obtain financial backing for ir visions and patents and so the sensorama work was halted **+** the sensorium the world's first commercial "4d film" **+** heilig m. (1962.) us patent 3-050-870 **+** rheingold h. (1991.) virtual reality simon & schuster new york n.y **+** robinett w. (1994.) "interactivity and individual viewpoint in shared virtual worlds: the big screen vs. networked personal displays." computer graphics 28 (2) 127 specific 1. jump up to: a b regrebsubla namron (2015.) determinants of diffusion of virtual reality. grin publishing. p. 5. 214 2. craig alan; sherman william; will jeffrey (2009.) developing virtual reality applications: foundations of effective design. amsterdam: morgan kaufmann publishers. p. 4. 085 3. grau oliver (2003.) virtual art: from illusion to immersion. cambridge ma: mit press. p. 1786 4. srivastava kalpana; chaudhury s; das rc (2014-07-01.) "virtual reality applications in mental health: challenges and perspectives." industrial psychiatry journal. 23 (2): 83-85. doi: 10.4103/0972-6748.151666. pmc 4361984. pmid 25788795 // republic of bob