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About InvestorSpace
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InvestorSpace is our patented virtual reality interface that employs advanced visualization and financial analysis techniques to convert a flood of financial information into a steady stream of investment ideas. Since its groundbreaking introduction in 1992, Maxus Systems' widely recognized and acclaimed products have been:
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Nominated by Intel Corp for a Computerworld Smithsonian Award -- making it part of the Information Technology archive at the Smithsonian.
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Exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum: the first exhibition of its type ever held in a major American art museum.
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The subject of textbooks and best-selling novels (e.g. "Data Mining Solutions" by Christopher Westphal & Teresa Blaxton, 1998; and "Trading Reality" by Michael Ridpath, 1997).
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Selected by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to apply METAPHOR MIXER visualization solutions to their demanding decision support requirements.
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What is InvestorSpace?
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InvestorSpace is a powerful investment decision support tool. It employs advanced visualization and financial analysis techniques to immerse you in a virtual world of investment information. This world is populated by hundreds of stocks and viewed through the lens of your investing preferences. You will find that an InvestorSpace is comprised of your choice of "Datasets", "Border Elements" and "Visual Triggers". Datasets can include hundreds or even thousands of stocks and are divided into "Old and/or New Economy Market Sectors" and "Industry Groups". "Border Elements" are broad descriptive or ranked categories of financial information--Stock Exchanges, Analyst Ratings and Industry/Sector Groups--used to define your InvestorSpace. "Visual Triggers" are the "Spin", "Blink", "Cloak", "Shape", "Height", and "Arrow Vector" of individual stocks depicting pricing and other multidimensional information based on your Momentum, Value or Earnings investment criteria. |
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What are the InvestorSpace Data Subscription levels? How much do they cost?
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InvestorSpace Subscribers choose from 4 Data Levels in 3, 6 and 12 month terms:
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S&P 500 Free!
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Russell 1000 3 mos.
$21.95 6 mos. $42.95 12 mos. $83.95
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Russell 3000 3 mos.
$41.95 6 mos. $80.95 12 mos. $156.95
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10,000 US Stocks 3
mos. $55.95 6 mos. $107.95 12 mos. $209.95
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Once you’ve registered and
downloaded the Basic S&P 500 version you can select another
Data Subscription level by going to www.investorspace.com
and click "Login/Register,"
to upgrade your InvestorSpace account. Enter your user name and
password, user profile information, and data subscription levels
in the appropriate fields, and click "Submit".
You can also set up and modify your Portfolio stocks on this web
page.
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What are the InvestorSpace Software levels?
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InvestorSpace comes in 4 functional software levels:
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Basic: Web-based charting and news features: Free!
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Plus: Advanced charting and news functions: $49.95/yr.
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Pro: All Plus features and input custom spreadsheets: $249.95/yr.
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Bloomberg Pro: All Pro features and your Bloomberg data feed:$1,000.00/mo (Users must already have a Bloomberg PC account).
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To select a Software level, click "Help"
on the InvestorSpace Windows Menu and select "Upgrade"
to bring up the Licensing dialog box. Select a service level:
InvestorSpace Plus; InvestorSpace Pro; or InvestorSpace Bloomberg
Edition. Then enter your identification and credit card
information in the appropriate fields, and click "OK".
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What are the InvestorSpace Support Service levels?
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InvestorSpace Subscribers choose from 3 Levels Support and Maintenance Services:
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Basic: Automated e-mail implementation and troubleshooting program; 900 # telephone support and Updates.
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Plus: All Basic Services, automated web-based support; 900 # telephone support and Updates.
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Pro: All Plus Services plus toll-free telephone support and Updates; professional consulting services available.
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To select a Support Service level, go to www.InvestorSpace.com and click "Support," where you can set up your Support Service account. Enter your user name and password, user profile information and Support Service levels in the appropriate fields, and click "Submit". |
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What are Border Elements; how do I set up and use them?
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"Border Elements" are broad descriptive or ranked categories of financial information--Stock Exchanges, Analyst Ratings and Industry/Sector Groups--used to define your InvestorSpace. InvestorSpace comes loaded with preset "Border Element" configurations: "Industry Groups by Analyst Ratings", "Exchanges by Industry Sectors" and/or "Industry Sectors by Analyst Ratings". To set your own configurations, click the "Edit Configuration" Icon the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" to bring up the "Edit Configuration" Dialog Box. |
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What are Visual Triggers; how do I set up and use them?
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"Visual Triggers" are the "Spin", "Blink", "Cloak", "Shape", "Height", and "Arrow Vector" of individual stocks depicting pricing information based on your "Momentum", "Value" or "Earnings" investment criteria. We’ve preset three default "Visual Triggers" configurations for Momentum, Value and Earnings investors. You can edit the "Visual Triggers" by clicking the "Triggers" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select your choices from the Triggers Control Panel. To save the resulting .inv file, click the "Save File" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar". |
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How do I login?
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Follow these steps:
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Close the window with the 3-D InvestorSpace logo. (Optional)
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Open an InvestorSpace inv. file. If not there already, enter your "User Name" and "Password" in the Login Dialog. You will not have to enter this information each time you login. |
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Click "OK". The program will start and download current pricing and analysis data from our servers.
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I’ve logged in and opened the InvestorSpace application. Now what?
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You’ll want to open an InvestorSpace .inv file. To select a file, click the "Open File" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select from your choice of preset configurations: Old & New Economy Stocks / Momentum Triggers; Old & New Economy Stocks / Value Triggers; Old & New Economy Stocks / Earnings Triggers; New Economy Stocks / Momentum Triggers; New Economy Stocks / Value Triggers; New Economy Stocks / Earnings Triggers. |
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What is the InvestorSpace Toolbar?
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The "InvestorSpace Toolbar" provides you with a shortcut command to all functions and features. The "InvestorSpace Toolbar" consists of 19 Icons spread out across the top of the InvestorSpace window, from left to right as follows: 1. Open .inv file; 2. Save .inv file; 3. Edit Configuration; 4. Edit Triggers; 5. Data Feed; 6. ReSort Display; 7. Charts; 8. News Headlines; 9. Portfolios; 10. Go / Fly To Issue; 11. Data Grid; 12. Lake Slicer; 13. Pick / Fly Mode; 14. Pre-Defined Views; 15. Camera Views; 16. Flight Paths; 17. Heads-Up Display Visible / Invisible; 18. Control Panels Visible / Invisible; 19. MS Agent Visible / Invisible; |
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What are the Control Panels and how do I use them?
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The Control Panels--Data, Status, VCR and Web Browser--pop up when you need to drill down on information, access a website or create a Flight Path. Activate the Control Panels by clicking the "Control Panel" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar".
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The "Data Control Panel" displays the price and statistical data represented within your InvestorSpace. |
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The "Status Control Panel" displays Zoom and Fly buttons, as well as Up/Down buttons that control the Lake Slicer. |
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The "Web Browser Control Panel" allows you to access any web page from within your InvestorSpace. It contains standard browser commands including: Back, Forward, Reload, Open, Stop, etc. Use the Browser to access stock charts, Edgar filings, news headlines or other financial websites, and access www.investorSpace.com. |
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The "VCR Control Panel" allows you to control Flight Paths through your InvestorSpace, using on-screen VCR control buttons to Play, Record, Fast forward, Rewind, and Pause Paths. At the bottom it displays your current selections of "Visual Triggers". |
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How do I select stocks in my InvestorSpace?
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There are two basic InvestorSpace operating modes: "Pick Mode" and "Fly Mode". The "Fly" and "Pick" Icons occupy the same spot on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" because you can only operate in one mode at a time with your mouse. (You can operate in both modes simultaneously, if you use a Joystick or ThrustMaster controller.) The Pick Mode allows you to select stocks within your InvestorSpace by pointing and clicking on individual stocks. Once you pick a stock, pricing and other statistics appear in the Heads-Up Display and Data Control Panel. You can also bring up charts, news and SEC filings for the stock you pick in the Web Browser. |
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How do I fly through my InvestorSpace?
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The "Fly Mode" allows you to use your mouse to direct your flight through the InvestorSpace. Click the "Fly" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" (the "Pick" Icon will disappear). To fly forward, place your cursor just above the cross hairs of the HUD, left click and hold. To fly backwards, place your cursor just below the crosshairs, left click and hold. To fly right or left, place your cursor to the right or left of the crosshairs, left click and hold. To fly up or down, place your cursor above or below the cross hairs, right click and hold. To slide right or left: place your cursor to the right or left of the crosshairs, right click and hold. To roll forward or backward: click both mouse buttons and hold while the cursor is above or below the crosshairs. To pitch right or left: click both mouse buttons and hold while the cursor is right or left of the crosshairs. |
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How do I find a particular stock?
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You can search for and fly to any given stock by its company name or ticker symbol. Scroll down the list of company names or tickers and click on the stock you want in the drop down list on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar". Fly to this stock by clicking the "Go" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar". |
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What is News Headlines function?
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This function harnesses the explosion of news and information available on the Internet in the XML format. InvestorSpace XML News Headlines provides more than twenty news categories you can easily edit to choose from a nearly limitless selection of news subcategories. Click on the "News" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "News Headlines": the XML dialog box will appear. Right click on a news category to bring up subcategories you select by double clicking on it. After you selected your news subcategories, double click on one to bring up current headlines in the XML dialog box. Double-click on a headline to bring up the full story in the Web Browser. You can also instruct Robby the Robot to read the XML headlines by clicking the "Agent Read" checkbox. |
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How do I add stocks to my Portfolio? How will I be able to differentiate them in the display?
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InvestorSpace comes preloaded with three portfolio types: the "Dow 30", "InvestorSpace 50" and "My InvestorSpace". You can access a preset Portfolios by clicking the "Portfolio" icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and selecting "Dow 30" or "Internet 50" from the Portfolio Control Panel. You can select and edit your own Portfolio by going to www.investorspace.com and click "Login/Register," input up to 100 stock ticker symbols in the appropriate field and click "Submit." To view your portfolio, click the "Portfolio" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "My InvestorSpace" from the Portfolio Control Panel. Portfolio stocks are identified in your InvestorSpace with neon green cubes framing each stock. Click "Fly to Stock" on the Control Panel fly to individual stocks in a Portfolio.
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What are Flight Paths? How do I create and use them?
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There are two types of InvestorSpace Paths: "Flythrough Paths" and "VCR Paths". Four preset "Flythrough Paths" are auto-pilot flights through your InvestorSpace. Click the "Flight Paths" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Flythrough", then either "Circle", "Zig Zag", "Crop Duster",or "Side Winder". Select one and the program continuously flies through your selected Path. |
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What are VCR Paths? How do I create and use them?
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The "VCR Paths" function allows you to record and play back your own flight paths. Click the "Control Panel" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "VCR Control Panel" to bring up the VCR Control Panel. To record a Path, click the "Record" button on the VCR Control Panel and fly/move through your InvestorSpace. Press the "Stop" button when complete. Save the path by pressing the "Save" button and typing a name for the path in the "Save As" dialog box. To play a previously saved path, press the "Open" button and select a path from the "Open Path" dialog box. |
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What are Camera Views?
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The "Camera View" function allows you to take and save snapshot views of your InvestorSpace. Maybe you want a separate snapshot right over individual "Market Sectors" or "Industry Groups". Once you’ve arrived at a view you want to capture, click on the "Camera" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar", select "New", input a name for the "Camera View" in the Camera dialog box and click "OK". |
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What does the Lake Slicer do?
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The Lake Slicer allows you to 'slice' the X-Z axis component of the currently loaded InvestorSpace. The default ".inv files" have the daily % change in price statistic set to the height and color of the InvestorSpace display. The lake slicer will enable you to quickly scan across the entire dataset and slice those that are above and or below certain % change thresholds. Use the up/down arrows on the "Status Control Panel" to move the Lake Slicer up and down by preset increments. |
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Where does all the data come from, how up to date and reliable is it?
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Financial information fuels InvestorSpace: system performance depends upon reliable, accurate data. (Please read the Disclaimer in the User License.) Historical pricing and analysis are provided under license from such reputable sources as Yahoo Quotes and Bloomberg LLC. This information is updated daily upon user login. Real time and 15 minute delayed price updates are available from web sources including Yahoo and CBS MarketWatch. To update your data, click the "Data Feed" icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar", select "Internet Server" / "Yahoo Quotes". Users of the Bloomberg Edition receive pricing and analysis via their Bloomberg PC accounts. InvestorSpace bases its data input on sources believed by it to be reliable and will endeavor to ensure that the data contained in the licensed Media. However, InvestorSpace does not represent, warrant, or guarantee such completeness, accuracy or timeliness, and it shall have no liability of any kind whatsoever to any other party, on account of any incompleteness of, inaccuracies in or lack of timeliness of the data provided hereunder, or for any delay in reporting such data. |
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What does the robot do and how do I use it?
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Robby the Robot is a Microsoft Agent character we’ve programmed to assist you. Robby will appear each time you start an InvestorSpace session; notifying you as the program, data and configurations load. He performs such text-to-speech functions as reading your News Headlines. He will seek out stocks meeting your choice of criteria. Click "Agent" on the Windows Menu, Uncheck "Microsoft Agent" / "Hide", and Robby will appear.
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How do I use voice commands to control Robby, the MS Agent character. What spoken commands will the agent respond to?
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Right click on Robby and you will see the InvestorSpace voice commands which Robby will respond to. They include: "Top View", "Ground Zero", "Fly to Selected", "Fly", "Pick", "Automove Wireframe","Heads Up Display", "Agent", "Agent Find Symbol", "All Control Panels", "Data Control Panel", "Status Control Panel", "VCR Control Panel". To trigger the voice command function, hold down the "Scroll Lock" key while speaking the command clearly into your PC’s microphone. Make sure your microphone is on and working. |
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Can I create my own .inv files in addition to the preset default files?
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The program provides you with at least three ways to configure your InvestorSpace to suit your decision and display preferences: 1. use the three preset configurations (Momentum, Value and Earnings); 2. select from the choices available on the "Configuration" and "Triggers" dialog boxes; or 3. edit your "Border Element" and "Visual Trigger" configurations manually by opening an .inv file in your text editor and inputting desired changes. Save the resulting text document as an .inv file in the InvestorSpace "Data" subdirectory.
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Any hints if I'm having trouble with getting InvestorSpace's 3D graphics working properly?
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There is no doubt that InvestorSpace makes large demands on the graphics components of you computer. We recommend at least 32MB of video RAM to achieve a reasonable effect. Also, under Control Panel-->Display Settings, you should set the color settings to 16-bit color for Windows 98SE versions and 24-bit color for Windows NT/2000/XP. Also, if you are still having trouble with the graphics, go to Control Panel-->Display Settings->Advanced and decrease the level for hardware acceleration employed by the graphic adapter. Set it down to the second setting and retry the application. In any case, its best to check with the manufacturer of you graphics card to ensure you have the latest drivers and/or video card bios installed.
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