The Rise of Manus AI in Hand Tracking & Haptic Technology

Chapter 1

The Evolution of Hand Tracking and Haptics Early Beginnings

This chapter explores the early beginnings of hand tracking and haptic feedback, tracing their roots from rudimentary mechanical gloves to early VR prototypes. These foundational technologies laid the groundwork for companies like ‘Manus AI’ to push the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual and augmented reality today.

The Birth of Motion Capture and Tactile Feedback

The 1960s–1970s: Foundations in Virtual Interfaces

The story begins in the 1960s,when Ivan Sutherland — often called the father of computer graphics — created the first head-mounted display (HMD), known as ‘The Sword of Damocles’. While primitive by today’s standards, this invention introduced the idea of an immersive visual interface. However, there was no way to interact with the virtual world beyond looking around — until researchers started exploring how humans could use their hands.

In parallel, scientists were experimenting with tactile interfaces— systems that could simulate the sensation of touch. One of the earliest examples came from NASA, which explored ‘force feedback joysticks’ for controlling remote manipulators in space missions. These early efforts showed promise but remained limited in scope and accessibility.

The 1980s: Enter the Data Glove

The 1980s marked a turning point with the development of the ‘data glove’, a wearable device capable of tracking hand movements in real time. One of the most notable pioneers was ‘VPL Research’,( one of the first companies to develop and sell virtual reality gear to the public.

History & Meaning of VPL Research

Founded in 1985 by Jaron Lanier , who is often credited with popularizing the term virtual reality .

VPL Research developed some of the first commercial VR products , including:

The DataGlove – a glove that tracked hand movements.

The EyePhone – an early head-mounted display (HMD).

These devices allowed users to interact with computer-generated environments — laying the foundation for modern VR.)  founded by Jaron Lanier. In 1987, VPL released the ‘DataGlove’, a wired glove embedded with sensors that could detect finger bending and orientation.

These gloves were paired with early VR systems like the ‘EyePhone HMD’, making VPL the first company to sell commercial VR hardware. Though expensive and limited in fidelity, these tools sparked excitement about the potential for full-body immersion in digital worlds.

At the same time, military and aerospace industries