<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          25,385
<SECURITIES>                                    25,922<F1>
<RECEIVABLES>                                    8,019
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,014
<INVENTORY>                                      2,166
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                61,418
<PP&E>                                          18,898
<DEPRECIATION>                                  13,198
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  69,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           23,268
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       116,732
<OTHER-SE>                                    (85,045)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    69,283
<SALES>                                         23,562
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                23,562
<CGS>                                           11,052
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   11,052
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                23,757
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 576
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (9,928)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        47
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           (10,045)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (10,045)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.54)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.54)
<FN>
<F1>THIS AMOUNT REPRESENTS SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS HELD BY THE COMPANY
AT 9/30/96
</FN>