News

VirTra lands patent for the Universe

July 15, 2002

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Virtual reality and kiosk systems developer VirTra Systems (OTCBB:VTSI) has been awarded a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its Universe Control Board, which converts PC-based software for use in kiosks and other platforms.

Company officials praised the patent office's decision, saying it would allow the company to maintain a crucial competitive advantage.

"Our ability to quickly change games and peripherals such as joysticks, VR headsets, and video monitors, without costly hardware conversion, provides a powerful competitive advantage while allowing us to efficiently respond to customers' needs," Rob White, VirTra vice president of operations, said in a news release.

The board is designed primarily to convert off-the-shelf PC games into coin-operated programs without modifying the game or its operating system and to expand the PC's ability to handle remote peripheral devices. VirTra officials said software conversions can cost more than $100,000 without the use of its Universe Control Board.

VirTra officials said the company, formerly known as GameCom/Ferris Inc., has been working on the patent for six years. The patent protects the proprietary technology used on the board.