Office tech update: the latest trends to increase productivity and accuracy.

• Author: Kronemyer, Bob
• Position: Office Design & Technology

Wireless technology, document management, digital copiers and scan-to-email are just some of the latest technological trends to hit the office. The goal of these cutting-edge technologies is to increase productivity and accuracy, while reducing costs.

"Our business for wireless technology is picking up, both point-to-point and in house," says Bob Parsons, president of Automated Of rice Solutions in Evansville. A mobile computer that an employee can walk around the office with is an example of an in-house wireless device. Conversely, point-to-point technology is from Building A to Building B. "This can be in the same town or even the same block," Parsons says. "I think the longest distance we've encountered is about 15 miles apart."

These wireless bridges, as they are known, permit computers from one side of the bridge to connect to computers or servers oil the other side of the bridge. However, "instead of running a wire between the bridges, there are directional antennas that point at each other," Parsons explains. Over the past year, both the speed and distance of wireless technology have increased. In addition, security has improved and prices have fallen.

Digital subscriber line (DSL) connections or broadband Internet may seem like yesterday's news, "but there are still many, many businesses that do not have a fast Internet connection," says Bill Ooms, owner of Business System Solutions in Lafayette. "DSL continues to be an important communication tool for businesses and their clients and vendors." Microsoft aggressively promotes DSL in new releases of servers and Windows XP.

Computers, meanwhile, are becoming more integrated with other office devices, including copiers. Digital copiers these days often have network connections. "From your desktop, you can command your copier to make 50 copies, collated and stapled or faxed," Ooms says. "Your copier is a super printer. All the commands you can do while standing in front of the copier can now be performed within Microsoft Word." These desktop print options include duplex (both in book and tablet form), finisher (group, alternation, magazine sort, staple in let). corner, staple in right corner, staple on the side), cover sheet (or back cover sheet), watermark (transparent or solid for confidential or draft) and private output.

According to Jay Brinegar, field sales manager at HPS Office Systems in Indianapolis, a major trend in multifunctional devices is scan to-email. "In the past, we've...