Jaron Lanier — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Considered a founder of the field of virtual reality.
Interdisciplinary Scientist at Microsoft Research (since 2009).
Co-founded VPL Research, Inc. (1985), the first company to sell VR goggles and wired gloves.
Named one of the top 100 Public Intellectuals by Foreign Policy (2005).
Named to the TIME 100 list of most influential people (2010).
Composed contemporary classical music and released the acoustic album Instruments of Change (1994).
Enrolled at New Mexico State University at age 13, taking graduate-level courses.

Biography

Jaron Lanier is an American computer scientist, futurist, and composer, recognized as a founder of the field of virtual reality. He co-founded VPL Research, Inc. in 1985 with Thomas G.

Zimmerman, a company notable for being the first to commercialize VR goggles and wired gloves. Lanier's early work included developing the game Moon Dust for Commodore, which led to a position at Atari Inc.