Bob Jacobson began his XR journey at the University of Washington’s Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab) in 1989, where he served as Associate Director during its formative years. His leadership helped establish one of the first academic centers dedicated to virtual reality and human-computer interaction.

 

In parallel, Jacobson co-created the sci.virtual-worlds USENET newsgroup—the first global forum for VR that catalyzed the growth of the VR community. USENET was the place for serious technical discourse; sci.virtual-worlds became a hub where: researchers, developers, hobbyists, artists, and even early commercial pioneers could discuss, share, debate, and collaborate on ideas related to immersive tech.

 

In the 1990s, he led Worldesign Inc., where he helped introduce the term “spatial computing,” a foundational concept in XR. His commitment to ethical, human-centered design and community building continues to shape the XR ecosystem.