Digital technology usage grows in business realm

by Jan K. Allen

SBJ Contributing Writer

One of the fastest-growing segments of the technology explosion is digital imaging and its many uses. The rise in interest is greatly affected by the Internet, which makes it more accessible, according to Paul Roberts, president of FocusTech.

"There is no question it is increasing," he said.

Businesses can take advantage of the timely transmission of records, photographs and drawings via digital imaging, Roberts said. In the construction business, for instance, an architect in Dallas can transmit drawings to a contractor while the contractor can send photos of a project in progress, all through a server on a preset Intranet connection.

Where designers and contractors once had to mail or FedEx pictures and copies of plans, it can now be done instant-aneously, he said.

This concept is beneficial to any business that needs to share images, and not just text, Roberts said.

It is becoming more prevalent in the transfer of medical information, including EKGs and other graphic records, from one doctor to another or from hospital to hospital.

Roberts said he believes the Midwest is slightly behind the coastal areas in implementing digital equipment on a daily basis, but usage is increasing here as it becomes more accessible to more people.

The list of ways businesses have benefited from digital technology is growing daily. It has become so commonplace that most people aren't aware of it.

For example, "Almost all special effects in movies are now done digitally," said Darrell Biri, technician with Systems Plus Computer Sales and Service.

Many photography studios are now using digital proofs, via computer, to show the subject instant results. It saves the photographer time and money to concentrate the whole process into one visit, Biri said.

With a digital camera and scanner, and the right software and printer for the PC, people can now edit and print their own photos, Biri said.

"Every day more and more people are using it for both business and personal applications," he said.

Dave Atkins, president of Springfield Technology, said in several fields, where use of digital technology has given people a competitive edge, digital equipment may one day be necessary to keep up with the competition.

He cited real estate agents as a example. Some Realtors are using digital cameras and CD recorders to produce a narrated photo album, burned onto a CD-ROM disc.

Atkins said the digital process captures the image and converts it into a pixel-by-pixel image. The capacity to convert information into recognizable, photo-quality images has been a boost in almost any field one can name, he said.

For the past 10 years or so, the oil industry has been able to use digital sonar readings to aid in oil exploration. The geologists look for a specific pattern in the readings, Atkins said.

Global Position-ing Systems have become a part of daily life for many people. With a GPS and a laptop computer, a traveler can plot a trip across country with directions at every turn.

"A lot of trucking companies are already using this system to find pick-up and delivery points," Atkins said.

It is not common for small to medium computer companies to stock digital equipment, but most of them will special-order it for customers upon request. Smaller companies can't afford to stock high-end equipment until it becomes mainstream, Atkins said.

He compared it to the CD-ROM drive, which started out at $1,000. The independents couldn't stock it at that price, knowing the price would eventually come down and they could be stuck with the higher priced unit. When it dropped to $500, and then $200, it became more viable. Now it can be purchased for less than $100, and everybody keeps them in stock, he said.

At the present time only the chain stores stock the high-end digital cameras, which sell at between $800 and $1,000. The Sony Mavica 4X, priced on the higher end of the spectrum, boosts of 1.3 mega pixels, plus many other features to produce professional-quality images.

Many software programs are available to enhance images and change the color, definition and size of a picture, making it the user's own creation.

And there is a plethora of other uses for digital technology.

Biri said on the East Coast, the use of retinal scanners are being tested as a security measure for ATM machines and other security-sensitive locations. While usage is expected to spread, there is some controversy regarding the issue of privacy.[[In-content Ad]]