EVL developed the CAVE™, a room-sized virtual reality (VR) device, in 1991, and continued to enhance CAVE™ technology, by creating derivative projection-based VR devices (such as the ImmersaDesk™, ImmersaDesk2™ and PARIS™ - Personal Augmented Reality Immersive System.)

Research in the development of "third-generation" advanced visualization devices for variable resolution, desktop/office-sized displays is EVL's present focus. Emphasis is upon developing multi-user display environments that are extremely high resolution - with autostereo capabilities, unencumbered tracking and intuitive user interaction. Advances in this area include the development of the 35-panel Varrier (autostereo), LambdaVision (155 megapixel tiled dipslay), LambdaTable (horizontal multi-user, high-res tiled display), and most recently, TacTile (a 52" HD, multi-touch interactive system).

EVL provides scientific researchers, educators, and artists access to the latest advanced visualization hardware to explore their data in highly immersive, highly interactive environments and promote computer-based art and education. Examples of such work are interactive/shared-context/collaborative, and remote collaborative exhibition pieces that involve audiences in the creation of VR environments and/or narrative.

EVL's GeoWall has been deployed in a large number of Universities to support undergraduate geoscience education. While other EVL-developed systems have been featured in museum installations such as the Adler Planetarium, SciTech Museum, Field Museum, and the Science Museum of Minnesota to name a few.

The goal of EVL's advanced visualization device research is to develop compelling prototypes/systems for improvement and reproduction by the commercial/industrial sector, as well as integration into educational programs and museum installations for public use.