Muse Technologies Inc, the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based virtual reality software firm, has developed Microsoft Windows NT-compatibility for its Muse Development System which it expects will significantly increase opportunities for sales in the manufacturing and automotive sectors. Muse Development System is used to simulate or visualize situations involving multiple senses or dimensions. NASA, for example, uses the software to simulate and model maneuvers by the international space station.
Muse has made key strategic shifts as well as adding several features. The strategy-level changes involve porting the system from Unix to Windows NT, and also slashing prices from around $100,000 per system to a starting price of $15,000 for NT and $22,000 for Unix. Steve Sukman, vice president of communications, says that users are increasingly switching to PCs in all sectors, and by moving to NT, Muse will be able to benefit from larger potential markets as well as other PC-based software.
Additional features include collaboration software that enables users on separate machines to work on the same project as well as multi-pipe capability, which enables images or data to be projected and modeled on multiple screens. The purpose-built Windows version also means that users can exploit a wider range of useful peripheral devices, such as joysticks and head-tracking virtual reality devices.
Muse recorded revenue of $6.2m last year, up from around $2m in 1997. After last November’s initial public offering on Nasdaq, it increased the number of employees from 18 to 46. Sukman was unwilling to make any projections on market growth, but he did say that the firm intended to reach the 100 employee mark by August next year.
