Many U.S. companies, small and large are increasing their technology investment to increase their productivity to become more efficient in their overall operations .To quote Los Angeles County Supervisor Antonovich: "Technology is building a new economy in Los Angeles County, including biomed, digital information, multimedia and advanced transportation industries. New ideas, new applications and new technologies are helping to build a better Los Angeles County." The Business Technology Center of Los Angeles County in Altadena with its many incubator firms to CalTech and the recent Tech Fest, sponsored by Pasadena Entretec and the various Technolink seminars shows that the region is a hot bed for Technology innovation and development. Future editions of Business Life will contain features in our new" Tech Insight" column.

New and innovative technology companies are significantly enhancing the productivity of our region’s workforce, and enjoyment in their jobs.  This column features technologies which are proven, developed by our regions’ firms, and of value to small and medium sized businesses. 

Managing the Workers Compensation Dilemma

When the State of California was seeking to improve its workers compensation delivery system through computer access, it called on CompData in Seal Beach, California.  CompData. CompData is a small technology firm founded in 1994.  It is the State of California authorized vendor of the application software and Value added Network services necessary to subscribe to the Division of Workers' Compensation EDEX system. The EDEX system was jointly developed by CompData and the State of California to permit interested businesses to easily connect to the Division of Workers' Compensation database and receive complete, accurate and up to date information details on past, current or even future injured workers' cases filed with the State of California. 

 The Windows based software allows easy access to this database of important case information and also permits medical providers and others to file legal documents with the Division of Workers' Compensation. This innovative process offers a cost effect and secure method for government agencies to communicate with the user community of businesses they serve. Insurers, attorneys and medical providers are but a few of the various types of firms that subscribe to this system." Any business that has a stake in the process of workers' compensation claims needs this service" said Ron Diller the founder and president of CompData.  Contact CompData at www.wcab.net.

Improving Computer Automated Design (CAD) Performance 

The San Gabriel Valley has become a world center for architecture and engineering. In support of that industry, Bluebeam Software, located in Pasadena, has  developed and implemented unique software applications to share and manage CAD drawings and specifications with its clients. Its newly released Bluebeam Conversion Server provides engineering firms an enterprise-wide server solution to handle MCAD-to-PDF conversions painlessly. It creates a centrally managed server environment for the automatic conversion and disbursal of an unlimited number of MCAD and Windows files to PDF or ten other file formats. Contact Bluebeam at www.Bluebeam.com.

WorkPlace Health

New innovations in on-line health data can assist employees in their own health-related research.  IGP Technologies, creator of the “Igotpain.com” website, is dedicated to the efficient delivery of reliable health information for medical self-diagnostis. IGP’s technology learns, grows and continues to achieve greater accuracy in diagnosing the correct medical condition based on consumer responses to its intuitive questioning, with a current accuracy of 96%. Contact www.igptech.com

Security in the Workplace

From the region’s aerospace and research industry have come several new workplace security technologies.  System Devices, Inc. in Burbank has developed a “Paging Optimizer”, which monitors the ambient noise level, and adjusts paging volume accordingly.  It delivers a consistent and intelligible voice paging in critical emergency public address and general voice paging situations.  Application areas include high noise paging environments (85dB+) such as factories and warehouses, airports, bus depots and transit stations. Contact tom@systemdevices.com

Arecont Vision develops and manufactures state-of-the-art, high-resolution digital video systems, cameras and associated system-level software for video surveillance and monitoring. Arecont Vision's newest product is the low-cost AV2000 video surveillance system, which delivers digital HDTV imagery - at video rates - across local area networks. Contact www.arecontvision.com.

Workplace Vacation and Leisure Planning

Of course, no workplace is complete without thoughts of vacation and relaxation.  Local technologies are addressing that market as well.  For sports and concert tickets, GoldStar Events utilizes their proprietary software and the Internet to provide discount seats to entertainment audiences that would otherwise go unsold.  Goldstar matches prequalified ticket buyers from their membership database and web page traffic with ticket sale offers. This enables venues to obtain a unique channel for yield management, and increased profits. For further information, contact www.goldstarevents.com.

Within the travel arena, LeisureLink, a travel technology and distribution company has developed a Global Distribution System (GDS) for the vacation rental and time-share industry.  Currently, no central directory exists for locating or reserving vacation rentals.  The Internet now gives LeisureLink the capability to provide the vacation rental industry with the same global reach of airlines and large hoteliers. Contact  www.LeisureLink.com. 

Source: William Lyte, Technology and Development Group, LLC can be reached by e-mail at wlyte@aol.com