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High-tech home run?
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November 5, 1996: 8:19 p.m. ET
Interactive Light's smart-beam comes from smart businessman
From Correspondent Steve Young
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - A slew of high-technology companies hit Wall Street this year, and some of their initial public offerings looked more like a crapshoot than a sound investment.
But Interactive Light knows how to play the game. More importantly, it knows how to make the game. The company's Home Run Derby baseball game is a hit.
Home Run Derby is the first application of Interactive Light's so-called "smart-beam" technology.
Originally created as a sensor for elevator doors, it's now being used to turn the average Joe into an average Cecil Fielder. (805K QuickTime movie)
According to marketing director Stuart Wallock, players of Home Run Derby get a real feel for the game rather than just pushing buttons. (138K WAV) or (138K AIFF)
Interactive Light is also using the beam to attract musicians, real or wannabes. By moving one's hand over the machine, the "musician" can vary the pitch and length of the tones.
"The computer is recognizing a midi signal (by) which all instruments speak to each other," said Interactive Light's Vincent de Franco. The signal is then advanced through a series of chords in Beethoven's fifth symphony, for example. (714K QuickTime movie)
Company CEO Amir Rubin brought the technology to the United States from Israel when he headed off to Columbia University in New York City.
But he dropped out to start his own business.
Through associates in the toy business he attracted some heavy hitters in the investment banking business. At a technology conference in 1992 he found more big-league investors, including Blockbuster's billionaire founder, Wayne Huizenga.
Now Interactive Light wants to go raise $20 million from the public to develop consumer games.
Rubin said he is lucky that his investors are "long-term investors and they supported us with allowing me to bring (my) baseball simulation to the market."
It may be working. Interactive Light said it will show a profit for the last two quarters of 1996. 
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Interactive Light
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