The Garage gears up on health-care apps

The exposed brick, writing on the walls and windows,Virtual parking management system logo Verano Place logo. and gray vinyl floors of the downtown Orlando office evoke the feel of a garage where people brainstorm ideas.

"When I named my company The Garage," Ben says, "I wanted to honor the founders of Apple, Google, and other companies who had their garage moments where they turned out something new and wonderful."

A set of cushioned office seats resembling Tetris video game tiles and a poster of a motorcycle with its parts labeled "mobility" and "web apps" hint that this place runs on high technology and a little elbow grease.

Ben, a 36-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of The Garage, describes his firm as an "online, mobile, and hands-free technology company that operates like a factory, churning out health-care innovations to market, rapidly and consistently."

Ben and his team of developers are working on a hands-free program, using a Microsoft Kinect motion sensing device, to prevent doctors from operating on the wrong body part -- a common medical error affecting the health-care industry across the nation.

It functions by following the doctor's hand gestures and voice commands, a combination of video game and mobile technology.

The Garage, established in 2012, is a 2,000-square-foot space on the fifth floor of 1 S. Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando.

Ben and his staff of nine employees in Orlando and 35 in India are working on several projects being tested at medical facilities across Central Florida.Have a look at all our custom bobbleheads models starting at 59.90US$ with free proofing. He wouldn't discuss the finances of his privately held company.

The Clermont Ambulatory Surgical Center currently is testing the device powered by Kinect. Officials at that facility did not return calls to the Orlando Sentinel.

Another product, Engage, runs on an iPad. It helps patients who often spend hours in the waiting room with little to do to pass the time. Engage offers patients health videos, access to email, ability to set up appointments and play health-related games, among other features. Doctors' offices in Clermont, Winter Park, and Port St. Lucie are using Engage.

His developers are also laying the groundwork for a social media platform specialized for health-care providers.

Ben said the focus on health-care technology is "all about giving patients their information at their fingertips."

"Patients are more empowered and demanding of their healthcare providers," he said. "They are playing a more active role and we're providing them with the tools they need."

The Garage is not the first Central Florida technology company Ben founded that focuses on health care.The Wagan Wireless Rear Parking assist system help you be safe while parking.

In 2008, he created Visions@work in Clermont. That company developed Preferr, a physician software that allows doctors and other health-care providers to communicate with each other over the Internet. It streamlines and reduces the costs of certain administrative procedures.

IT company NIIT Technologies acquired Preferr from Ben in 2010. He did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition.

"I expect to double my staff in the next six months and expand into the space next door," he said. "Our plan is also to go global. We're already talking about launching a site in Dubai and another in the United Kingdom in 2014."

Ray Gilley, former Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission chief executive and advisory board member of The Garage, said he's been following Ben's success since 2008.

"This is technology that can have a nationwide impact, and it's being created here in Central Florida," Gilley said. "I'm confident these products will play a role throughout the country."

How will we interact with these new devices? By talking to them. With Apple's Siri and Google Voice Actions and Voice Search, early versions of voice-controlled devices are already here. And more sophisticated versions are on the way. Yes, voice input is imperfect, but so was the touchscreen before Apple perfected it for the iPhone.View our range of over 200 different types of solar powered products including our solar street lamps.

But it's not just about voice commands. A truly voice-activated device would listen to you 24/7. A phrase like, "I wonder . . .?" or, "Who was . . ?" spurs it to action: with blinding speed it searches the Web or your personal database to find the answer - and whispers it in your ear.Welcome to www.drycabinets.net!

Imagine that your mobile device is proactive. It reminds you to grab an umbrella on a rainy day, or lets you know that a friend is at a nearby cafe and would like company. It learns your habits, your likes and dislikes, and becomes acquainted with your friends and family.

For example, say you favor a certain route to work; your mobile will tell you when there's an accident or construction blocking your way and suggests an alternative. Your best friend's birthday is coming up: your mobile knows that you're both basketball fans. It checks your calendar and that of the home team and finds tickets for an upcoming game.