In our modern digital age, immersive experiences have become an increasingly popular form of entertainment. Technologies like light projection, virtual reality, augmented reality and interactive elements transport participants and immerse them into different worlds.
If you’re wondering what an immersive experience is, there are actually several definitions that exist. One describes an immersive experience as: the perception of being surrounded by, and being a part of, a different environment than our normal day to day.
They seem to have exploded over the last decade, with new exhibitions and experiences popping up regularly. But how did we get here? Let’s take a trip through time to trace the evolution of immersive experiences.
From cave fires… let’s get prehistoric
We start with the foundational element of today’s digital immersive experiences… light! Humans have always been fascinated by light. The earliest forms of entertainment and immersive storytelling involved using fire to create shadows. Some notable early uses include the San (Khosian) people of South Africa who used light to enhance their iconic cave art, or the Great Hall of the Bulls in southern France who similarly used the flickering effect of light to help animate storytelling.
Now let’s get medieval
In Europe, stained glass windows in churches relied on light to enhance the artwork and give visitors the feeling of being immersed. Another form of immersive art was the prominent use of frescoe painting on walls and ceilings.
Colonial Era
The magic lantern was invented in the 17th century. It was a precursor to modern projectors, and captivated audiences with moving images. Among the innovations that followed, the Kaiserpanorama in 1895 allowed viewers to experience panoramic scenes, an early form of immersive entertainment. These innovations contributed to the groundwork for future immersive storytelling technologies.
The ’60s and ’70s
Entering the 20th century, we have the “Liquid Crystal Environment” (1965) which pioneered the concept of “auto-creative art,” by using heat-sensitive liquid crystals and projection technology. “La Cathedrale d’Images” (1975) pushed the boundaries of immersive art by using the space’s existing architecture as its canvas and using slide projectors, which was groundbreaking at its time.
Today
In 2003, “The Weather Project” by Olafur Eliasson created a vast, indoor environment that simulated a sun and sky. Using a semi-circular screen, a ceiling of mirrors, and artificial mist, Eliasson created an illusion of a massive, indoor sunset. In 2008, companies like Meow Wolf Entertainment entered the scene, continuing to give life to interactive installations and immersive art. As we hop, skip and jump from Artechouse redefining how art is experienced through technology-driven exhibitions to numerous virtual and augmented reality advances, we find ourselves reaching some of the latest experiences today.
The Las Vegas Sphere, officially known as Sphere at The Venetian Resort, is undoubtedly a revolutionary entertainment venue. Located in Paradise, Nevada, it is the largest spherical building in the world. The venue is equipped with cutting-edge immersive technology, including a 16K resolution wraparound interior LED screen.
2025 and beyond
With the rapidly evolving AI technologies, advancements in virtual reality 2.0 and the ever-expanding boundaries of digital immersion, there will be no shortage of new ways to immerse people into digital worlds. As we step into this future, the potential for such technologies to transform industries and redefine human connection is limitless. At Immersive-Lights, we will be covering all the latest innovations.
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