Technology Milestone

1971

First personal computer

The first personal computer, The Kenbak-1, is released before microprocessors were invented.

Technology Milestone

1978

Aspen Movie Map, first-person interactive city view

Invention of the Aspen movie map a "surrogate travel" experience developed by MIT. It's an interactive first-person view of the city, a sort of early rendition of Google Street View.

Technology Milestone

1978

First MUD1 is released

The first Multi User Dungeon, or MUD1 is released becoming the oldest virtual world in existence.

Cultural Moment

1981

In-depth study on the construction of shared existences by Baudrillard

Philosophical tretise Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard is published depicting the the relationships between reality, symbols, and society as well as the influence of culture and media in constructing the concept of shared experience.

Cultural Moment

1982

Beginning of CGI use in cinema with Tron

Tron, the movie, is released and becomes one of cinema's earliest films to use extensive computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Cultural Moment

1987

Virtual Reality term is coined

Virtual reality term is coined by computer scientist, researcher, and artist Jaron Lanier.

Technology Milestone

1988

First online text chat system

Jarkko Oikarinen starts IRC (Internet Relay Chat), the first text-based chat system.

Technology Milestone

1991

The Virtual Group brings VR to the public

The Virtuality Group releases a series of games and arcade machines. Players would wear a pair of virtual reality goggles and play immersive games in real-time.

Technology Milestone

1991

First web page goes live on the world wide web

The first web page goes live on the world wide web and was dedicated to information on the World Wide Web project and was made by Tim Berners-Lee

Cultural Moment

1992

"Snow Crash" coins the term metaverse

The Metaverse is a phrase coined by Neal Stephenson as a successor to the Internet in his novel Snow Crash.

Behavior Shift

1996

The largest archive of internet history begins

Brewster Kahle starts the Internet Archive (and in 2001 the Way Back Machine) to archive and preserve the "World Wide Web," allowing users to view how websites looked in the past.

Cultural Moment

1997

Janet Murray imagines the future of narrative in cyberspace

Janet Murray publishes Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace, discussing technology's influence on the storytelling.

Cultural Moment

1997

The first social networking site, Six Degrees, launches

The platform Six Degrees became the first social network combining popular features such as profiles, friends lists and school affiliations in one service.

Technology Milestone

1998

First crypto-currency system, b-money is introduced

B-Money Wei Dai, a computer engineer, unveiled his proposal for b-money, a decentralized, distributed cryptocurrency. Although it never fully developed, several of the elements are very similar to those found in Bitcoin, which debuted years later.

Technology Milestone

1999

The Matrix movie release popularizes virtual reality

Praised for innovative visual effects, action sequences, cinematography and entertainment value, it popularized virtual reality to the general public.

Behavior Shift

1999

Napster popularizes peer-to-peer file sharing

Napster, a peer-to-peer filesharing platform is created, primarily for sharing audio files. (shut down in 2001 for copyright issues)

Technology Milestone

1999

First commercial camera phone

Japan's Kyocera releases the first commercial camera phone for photo texting/emailing.

Behavior Shift

1999

First browser game with live chat launches

SissyFight2000 launches as a free browser game, one of the first online games with live chat functionality.

Cultural Moment

2000

Habbo Hotel launches

One of the first attempts at creating a metaverse, Habbo Hotel established 9 virtual communities for players with design, build, play games and trade in.

Behavior Shift

2002

The Sims multiplayer online game with monthly subscription launches

Buliding on the popularity of the PC game The Sims, EA launced a massively multiplayer online version of the Sims, using a monthly subscription model.

Cultural Moment

2003

Second Life launches

Linden Labs launches the first iteration of Second Life, a massive, web-based, online community taking place in 3D space with player avatars and currency.

Cultural Moment

2004

Facebook launches

Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook to connect Harvard students to each other.

Cultural Moment

2006

Roblox 3D online game platform is released

Roblox, a 3D online game platform is released, with 43.2 million daily active users in 2022, It allows users to program games and play games created by other users.

Technology Milestone

2006

Cisco attempts setting up a distant co-working system, Telepresence

Cisco TelePresence launched to connect 2 physically distant conference rooms together with video. Product was never widely adopted.

Technology Milestone

2007

Google introduces Street View

Google introduced Street View, collecting data in order to accurately replicate streets and spaces.

Behavior Shift

2009

Farmville is released on Facebook

FarmVille is released by Zynga on Facebook. The game leverged the social media platform as part of the experience.

Technology Milestone

2009

Bitcoin launches

On the 3rd of January in 2009, the bitcoin network came into existence with its founder, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Technology Milestone

2009

Blockchain is introduced with Bitcoin

Satoshi Nakamoto alongide bitcoin, invented blockchain to serve as the public transaction ledger for Bitcoin. Some have claimed to have invented the concept of blockchain earlier, however, this is heavily debated.

Cultural Moment

2009

Minecraft is made public

Minecraft, a blocky online sandbox game focused on building and exploring goes live and is later called "most important game in a decade" by Forbes, Polygone, and the Guardian.

Cultural Moment

2011

Ready Player One presents a new vision of a virtualized future

Science fiction novel Ready Player One is released by Ernest Cline. In 2018 it was also made into a movie by Steven Spielberg and introduced many people to the concept of a virtual reality world.

Technology Milestone

2012

Creation of first NFTs, the "Colored Coins"

NFTs have recently become popular, however, the concept of NFTs has existed since December 2012 with the creation of “Colored Coins,” in which additional information is incorporated onto a bitcoin so that it is no longer fungible but unique.

Behavior Shift

2012

Release of intenet-connected exercising equipment by Peloton

Peloton starts to build an at-home exercise bike with a subscription to streaming classes and enabling an online fitness community.

Technology Milestone

2014

Release of the VR Chat enabling virtual world interaction.

VR chat is released, an open, modable VR world with avatars and voice chat.

Technology Milestone

2014

First desktop holographic 3D display

Looking Glass Factory produces the Looking Glass, the first desktop holographic 3D display.

Behavior Shift

2015

3D Virtual world browser-based platform Decenterland is developped

The first iteration of Decentraland's virtual reality platform was introduced in 2015. It allocated land via a proof of work algorithm. The 2021 boom in NFTs has led to sales of some of the game’s real estate plots for over $100,000.

Technology Milestone

2015

Launch of Ethereum Blockchain as a programmable asset to access more functions beyond cryptocurrency

In July of 2015, Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood launched the Ethereum Blockchain to be used for purposes other than cryptocurrency. Ethereum is programmable so you can use it for lots of different digital assets and appplication

Technology Milestone

2015

Terra Nullis becomes first NFT on Ethereum blockchain

Terra Nullis is the first NFT on the Ethereum blockchain minted on Agust 7, 2015. It was built to allow you to stake your "claim" on the blockchain.

Technology Milestone

March, 2016

First Oculus VR headset for consumers

Oculus Rift CV1 headset launches as an evolution of the Crescent Bay Prototype, featuring per-eye display,360-degree positional tracking, integrated audio, positional tracking volume, and a heavy focus on consumer ergonomics and aesthetics.

Cultural Moment

November, 2016

Snapchat brings augmented reality to cellphones

Snapchat spectacles was made for Snapchat and was released on November 10, 2016. The Snapchat spectacles lets users see the world in augmented reality, snap videos and photos that could be transferred to user's phone and post on Snapchat and social network.

Cultural Moment

2016

Pokemon Go takes the world by storm by popularizing AR use

Pokemon GO was the first widely popular game that introduced AR. It uses mobile devices with GPS to locate, capture, train and battle virtual creatures that appear in player's real-world location.

Cultural Moment

2017

Introduction of the term and technique of “deepfake”

The term “deepfake” was first coined in late 2017 by a Reddit user of the same name. Using machine learning techniques to make connections between the sounds produced by a video's subject and the shape of their face to swap with another person's likeness.

Cultural Moment

November, 2017

CryptoKitties becomes first widely recognized blockchain game

CryptoKitties was launched as the first ERC-721 tokens. It was the first widely recognized blockchain game. The oversupply of kitties and decrease of player income led to it's quick collapse until a redemption later.

Behavior Shift

2018

Interractive episode Bandersnatch is released

Bandersnatch developed by Netflix offers viewers interactive participation by letting them choose their own adventure style and offering with different stories, endings and experiences to explore.

Behavior Shift

March, 2018

First play-to-earn blockchain game is released

Axie Infinity is known as the first play-to-earn blockchain game that has gone viral with over 1.8 million active users logged into the platform as of August 2021.

Cultural Moment

2018

Animoca Brands acquires Sandbox

The Sandbox, a mobile game launched in 2012, in 2018 was acquired by Animoca Brands who began further developing on the blockchain.

Cultural Moment

February, 2019

The opening night of virtual concerts with Marshmello's Fortnite gig

Fortnite's first ever virtual concert by Marshmello. 10.7 million people were recorded to have attended the concert in-game and the official recap of the event has over 27 million views on YouTube. It topped the previous largest in-game event with 10.7 milliion users in attendance.

Technology Milestone

2019

Google Maps releases AR function

Google Maps AR function released - shows walking directions on top of real-world images.

Cultural Moment

May, 2020

Launch of a Minecraft design studio

A 20-year old Minecraft designer, Thomas Sulikowski, founded Varuna, a Minecraft design studio charging up to $90k for custom work.

Cultural Moment

October, 2020

NBA launches personal NFTs

NBA launched their own official NFTs - official on-court player video highlights all scured by the blockchain. Kick-starting a whole new era of fandom.

Cultural Moment

March, 2021

Most expensive NFT is sold

Beeple sold his NFT for $69 million

Technology Milestone

March, 2021

The Quest 2 becomes the best-selling VR headset

The Quest 2 from Facebook becomes the best-selling VR headset by significant margin hitting mainstream success.

Technology Milestone

April, 2021

Epic launches the Meta Humans Curator

Epic launches the Meta Humans Creator, a free cloud-based app using AI to generate synthetic humans.

Behavior Shift

May, 2021

Gucci Garden opens in Roblox

Gucci launched the Gucci Garden in Roblox, the experience fell flat according to attendees, but the specticle was a PR success.

Technology Milestone

May, 2021

Google announces Project Starline, allowing users to see 3D video objects without lenses

Google announces Project Starline, a video communication method that allows users to see 3D models of the people they're talking to without a headset/goggles.

Behavior Shift

September, 2021

BMW creates its own metaverse with Joytopia

BMW launches Joytopia, a virtual world at IAA, including an exclusive concert from Coldplay.

Behavior Shift

September, 2021

Balenciaga launches their 2021 Autumn collection through Unreal and volumetric capture

Using the Unreal Engine and volumetric capture, Balenciaga launched a real-time experience to launch their 2021 Autumn collection, making catwalk shows more accessible and interactive.

Technology Milestone

October, 2021

Unity launches Metacast, (RT3D) technology

Unity launches Metacast, a real-time 3D (RT3D) technology to capture and analyze sports in real-time.

Cultural Moment

October, 2021

Facebook rebrands to Meta

Facebook name/direction change. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he was changing his company name to Meta Platforms Inc. or Meta for short.

Cultural Moment

2021

Unity acquires Weta Digital for $1.6b

Designed to put Weta’s sophisticated visual effects (VFX) tools into the hands of millions of creators and artists around the world, and once integrated onto the Unity platform, enable the next generation of RT3D creativity and shape the future of the metaverse.

Behavior Shift

October, 2021

Pokemon celebrates anniversary by building virtual shopping center merging physical to digital

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pokemon, Charli Cohen and Selfridges built Electric/City, a virtual shopping city of exclusive physical and digital garments.

Behavior Shift

November, 2021

NIKELAND launches on Roblox

NIKELAND launches on Roblox, creating a space for nike fans to create, share experiences and compete.

Behavior Shift

December, 2021

Sandbox expands NFT 's by partnering with popular figures

Sandbox grows in popularity by widening its partnerships and including celebrities and artists. Starting off with Deadmau5, it expanded to the likes of rapper Snoop Dogg and the Warner Music Group in 2022.

Cultural Moment

December, 2021

The Merge becomes most expensive NFT ever sold

The Merge becomes the most expensive NFT ever sold for $91.8m, with nearly 30,000 collectors splitting the bill.

Cultural Moment

December, 2021

The Staples Center becomes the Crypto.com Arena

Home to the Lakers, Staples center, and Miami Heat home, American Airlines center has now been renamed and sponsored by two crypto exchanges Crypto.com and FTX.

Behavior Shift

December, 2021

Nike merges gaming and culture by acquiring RTFKT

Nike buys RTFKT, a maker of sneaker NFTs in order to create "a leading brand that leverages cutting edge innovation to deliver next generation collectibles that merge culture and gaming."

Technology Milestone

December, 2021

OWO haptic feedback gaming vest wins CES Innovation Award

The OWO vest, a vest using haptic feedback for players to feel sensations during gameplay, won an innovation award at CES.

Cultural Moment

January, 2022

Samsung launches NFT TV

The OWO vest, a vest using haptic feedback for players to feel sensations during gameplay, won an innovation award at CES.

Behavior Shift

January, 2022

Selfridges becomes first physical retailer to sell NFTs in person

Selfridges unites the work of artist Victor Vasarely with designs from Paco Rabanne, to combine physical shopping with digital fashion in a way that feels familiar to luxury fashion consumers.

Cultural Moment

January, 2022

Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard for $70B

Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard for $70b, acquiring their enormous portfolio of games and development studios.

Cultural Moment

January, 2022

Kaws opens exhibition New Fiction in a physical and digital space

Kaws opens his first major solo exhibition, New Fiction, in London and in Fortnite. All the paintings and sculptures in the exhibition as well as a miniature version of the entire show will exist as AR works

Technology Milestone

February, 2022

Samsung launches crypto wallet on Android

The wallet allows access and exploration with NFTs, cryptocurrencies. It can securely store personal identification.

Cultural Moment

February, 2022

Crypto goes mainstream with the Superbowl

Crypto companies taking over superbowl TV ads. Advertisers include Coinbase Global, FTX and Crypto.com and Bitbuy. Ads could cost up to $7 million for 30 seconds