RealityLens - Spherical Panoramic Camera Lens
Panoramic equipment and software for military, government, commercial and home usage
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About Virtual Video Reality, LLC
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About VVR:
Kurtis Ritchey, CEO and President of Virtual Video Reality, LLC conceived what is referred today as spherical panoramic video, surround video, immersive video, virtual video, or virtual video reality in 1979. He did this outside of school while pursuing his Bachelors Degree in Architecture and Masters of Urban Planning & Design at the University of Kansas. Ritchey hoped to to improve on visualization of the built environment. While attending Washburn Law School he wrote and began applying for the first patents on video based virtual reality systems and devices.
Sources of inspiration for his work included study of an insects eye from 4-H entomology and his architectural studies. Inspiration also included pioneers working in computer graphic based virtual reality like Jaron Lanier at VPL, Guy from MIT, and those working in the Virtual Cockpit work that was being done by the USAF. Ritchey fathered the field of “Panoramic Image/Video Based Virtual Reality/Telepresence” by grabbing from a wide variety of rapidly advancing technologies such as television production and special effects devices, advanced audio-visual systems, computer systems, interactive devices, high resolution imaging systems, optical components, and telecommunications.
As Ritchey’s 1980’s disclosure and early patents indicate, he concieved using a plurality of cameras to record a spherical environment prior to David McCutchen and a surround room prior to Cruz Nera, who he has talked to and greatly admires for their own contributions to the field of VR. He has met and had the pleasure of presenting with other pioneers in the field such as Jaron Lanier at a San Jose SPIE Conference in 1992. Currently Ritchey, along with his patent attorneys and colleagues are pursuing the next generation of virtual video reality products. Ritchey invites individuals and companies to contact him that are interested in making surround video more accessible to the general public.
To this end, in 2005 VVR offered a sphrical FOV lens for mounting on 35mm SLR digital cameras.
And in 2007 VVR is offering the first spherical FOV adapter lens that can be mounted on conventional
HD camcoders, called "RealityLens" for recording spherical panoramic virtual video. And to make it even easier for people
to use "RealityLens", VVR is working with Spherical Panorama Inc., Vladimir Shulakov to develop tailored software for use with "Reality Lens".
VVR currently has exclusive intellectual property rights to use, sale, or manufacture systems covered by Ritchey’s Patents and Patent’s pending. Please contact VVR to negotiate legal rights to use, sale, or manufacture a system covered by current patents or those pending.
