Lake Forest’s GoScan Inc., a maker of software that helps companies cut down on paper via scanning, is helping governments track people who’ve been vaccinated for the swine flu virus.
Several states are using the software to input data so the government can get a clearer picture of who is receiving the swine flu vaccine and how he or she reacts to it.
GoScan’s software is being installed at hundreds of places where vaccines are given. Scanners help gather data such as age, gender, allergies, underlying medical conditions and other factors.
All of the info is then stored in a database that can be called upon by government health workers.
“The only way for them to collect this data quickly is to use a program like GoScan,” Chief Executive Mike Stuhley said.
The big selling point for GoScan is that its software is billed as virtually foolproof—users place documents in a scanner, call up the software and press a big green “scan” button.
“The (government) can’t train hundreds of people to use a scanning application,” Stuhley said. “The way to get around it is to do a very simple user interface. Technology has to be simple to use statewide in an emergency.”
GoScan spun off in 2003 from Lake Forest’s Formtran Inc., which makes scanning software for corporations.
The company started with an initial investment from Formtran and is scouting for venture financing.
GoScan, which has 15 workers in all, doesn’t disclose sales. It is profitable, according to Stuhley.
Customers include the governments of Colorado, Connecticut and Alaska and the Marine Corps. It also counts the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Newport Beach’s Glidewell Dental Laboratories Inc. as customers.
Parking Lot Cruisers
Costa Mesa’s T3 Motion Inc., a maker of electric personal vehicles, inked a deal with Target Corp.
The retailer is set to deploy T3’s vehicles to patrol the parking lots of more than 100 stores.
T3’s vehicles look like souped-up Segways with three wheels. They are emission-free, run on rechargeable batteries and max out at around 25 mph.
T3 Motion, which started in 2003, markets the vehicles for security guards, police officers and others.
New Texas Office
Irvine’s True Games Interactive Inc., a startup maker of online video games, has had a busy month.
The company recently launched a studio in Austin, Texas, that’s set to be headed by video game industry veteran Frank Lucero.
“This new studio will allow us to have more direct control and involvement in the development process of our games,” Chief Executive Bob Drobish said.
As studio head, Lucero will manage operations and head the team and a game currently in development.
The Irvine office is set to primarily do platform and billing system development along with marketing and other corporate functions.
The Austin office, which is set to have some 20 workers, is focused solely on game development, according to technology chief Peter Jarvis.
The studio’s first project, which will be True Games’ third online game, hasn’t been announced.
Earlier this year, True Games released its first title, “Warrior Epic.”
Prior to joining True Games, Lucero headed Stray Bullet Games LLC in Austin, which makes multiplayer online games as well as games for Nintendo Co.’s Wii.
Like Orange County, Austin attracts a lot of video game companies.
Irvine’s Blizzard Entertainment Inc., the top maker of online games with more than $1 billion in yearly sales, has a big office there.
“The decision to base this studio in Austin had a lot to do with the exceptional talent pool that exists in the area,” said Jeff Lujan, founder and chairman of True Games.
True Games, part of India’s UTV Software Communications Ltd., operates on a business model known as “free-to-play micro transactions.” Its games are free to download. Players can purchase items within the game that give their avatars an extra edge.
Earlier this month, True Games said it formed a business unit that’s looking to acquire game content to run on its online game platform.
“The company has put a call out to all developers and publishers who have new, original or licensed online video game content that can be operated within the micro-transaction model,” the company said in a statement.
Bits and Pieces
Fountain Valley’s D-Link Systems Inc., a maker of networking gear for consumers and small businesses that’s a unit of Taiwan’s D-Link Corp., continued its hiring streak with the addition of Martha Hess as director of business solutions marketing for its North American operations …
Irvine’s Local.com Corp., which runs a search Web site that helps consumers find local businesses, recently landed a patent that helps advertisers get more out of telephone directory assistance systems … Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and the TechAmerica Foundation, the technology industry shed 115,000 jobs from January to June. The industry lost 224,100 jobs from June 2008 to June 2009, the group’s data showed.
