AlterVue Systems Releases First Practical Virtual Reality Application For Widespread Business Use.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1998--

VRCharts(TM) Revs Up Presentation of Complex Numerical Data - Web Site Goes Live (http://www.vrcharts.com)

AlterVue Systems, Inc., today announced the release of VRCharts(TM), the first practical application of virtual reality (VR) software for widespread business use. VRCharts is an affordable, easy-to-use software tool that displays charts and graphs in a three-dimensional (3-D) interactive environment, giving users a more effective and visually stimulating way to analyze and communicate a wide range of numerical data.

Unlike traditional 2-D and 3-D presentation tools, VRCharts readily transforms data from popular spreadsheets and databases into clear, multi-dimensional formats for presentation, forecasting and trend analysis. Users can view their final charts and graphs on the desktop, laptop or projection screen.

"VRCharts goes beyond simply taking static 2-D and 3-D charts and placing them in an interactive environment," said Nick Nickerson, AlterVue founder and president. "The software fully exploits the interactive nature of virtual reality so that users can move around and through charts, and view and present information from multiple perspectives."

According to industry experts, presenters have eight seconds per visual to capture the attention of their audiences. If that's true, AlterVue officials say, VRCharts should appeal to anybody who needs to make compelling presentations using charts and graphs.

"VRCharts offers a very intuitive and entertaining way to turn mountains of numerical data into meaningful presentations," said Douglas Spicer, product support manager. "Our beta users say it takes the yawns out of their business presentations."

Until now, virtual reality -- a computer-generated technology that produces simulated, almost lifelike environments -- has been the primary domain of engineers, designers, game developers and home architect software. It has not reached mainstream business, mainly because of the lack of easy-to-use, reasonably priced, virtual reality business software.

But with VRCharts, Nickerson thinks virtual reality will soon transform mainstream business, as well. "Virtual reality is going to be the next wave in business software. After you see a presentation with VRCharts, other charts and graphs seem flat and dull. And because it is so easy and fun to use, we believe this format will quickly become the expected lowest common denominator."

"I have looked for two years for a tool with the versatility of VRCharts to show students and asset managers large amounts of historical data," said Dr. Campbell Harvey, professor of finance at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. "The kind of 3-D interactive presentation that I can create with VRCharts is just what I need to help them understand the underlying data relationships."

"I've started using VRCharts in all my presentations, and my clients love it," said Skip Stokes, district manager for ProView, a distributor of presentation products. "I call it 'my secret weapon' because it's so far and beyond any other data visualization tool on the market today."

Several recent advancements in technology have paved the way for interactive 3-D data visualization to become a widely accepted technology for business users. Those advancements include more powerful PC graphics cards, more powerful and reasonably priced PCs, and an accepted Web standard in VRML (virtual reality modeling language).

The VRCharts package includes four trademarked charts: Fog City Chart(TM), Tank Farm Chart(TM), Ribbon Highway Chart(TM) and Lobster Buoy Chart(TM). These combination charts offer unique visualization features. For example, Fog City lets users superimpose a fog-like surface over column data to clearly differentiate expected results (fog) from actual results (columns). A step-by-step, user-friendly graphical interface walks users through the creation of these and other customizable charts.

Completed charts are viewed with an integrated virtual reality viewer. They can be e-mailed, viewed on a PC or exported to a Web page. Anyone viewing a chart from a Web page will require a VRML-enabled browser.

VRCharts runs on Windows(R) 95 and NT(R) systems. It has automatic interfaces to spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft(R) Excel and Lotus(R) 1-2-3(R) and will accept PC text data output from most database or mainframe sources. It can easily be integrated into popular presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint(R), Lotus Freelance Graphics(R) and Corel(R) Presentations(TM).

Since everything required to create and view charts comes with the software, Nickerson says the average user will be able to install the product and begin viewing a chart in as few as 15 minutes. VRCharts is available to consumers for under $200. It can be ordered via the World Wide Web (http://www.vrcharts.com) or by calling [phone]. It is also available from original equipment manufacturer (OEM) channels. VRCharts will be available for shipment May 22.

Founded in 1997, AlterVue Systems is a Chapel Hill-based company that markets and sells interactive 3-D visualization software for business. AlterVue produced VRCharts in collaboration with Electrohouse, Inc., a Raleigh-based virtual reality software development company. Founded in 1996 by Michael Neacsu, Electrohouse develops virtual reality software for business applications, particularly for the high-performance financial information market.

For more information about VRCharts or AlterVue Systems, Inc., or to download screenshots and other information, please visit http://www.vrcharts.com.

CONTACTS: AlterVue Systems, Inc.

Nick Nickerson, 919/929-6111

[e-mail]

or

TechKnowledge Communications Inc.

Jen Newstrom, 919/420-7770

[e-mail]