OptoNews - July 11, 2007

Introducing OptoGreen

Search the Product Support Knowledgebase for Answers

Get Your OptoGear

First "Shoot This, Opto!" Contest Winner Announced

Introducing OptoGreen

Is it the park-like grounds surrounding our Temecula, California headquarters? Or our customers and integrators who focus on environmentally sound products and services?

Whatever the reason, Opto 22 has become increasingly aware of our impact on the environment—and our responsibility to lessen that impact through conservation, recycling, and sustainability.

Last year we put into effect a comprehensive plan to reduce the amount of energy we use as a company. We used our own SNAP PAC System hardware and software to monitor and control water and energy use, and we made some sensible updates to our HVAC, irrigation, and physical plant systems. Over the last 12 months, we've reduced our energy usage by 29%.

That success has encouraged us to do more. Our OptoGreen initiative details our progress to date and our plans for the future.

Search the Product Support Knowledgebase for Answers

Not only is Opto 22 Product Support free, but now it's even easier to find information on product issues. Our expanded OptoKnowledgeBase (OptoKB) is database driven. KB articles are no longer PDFs, but open promptly right in the Support window.

More importantly, the complete text of all KB articles is searchable. You can search on an error code number, a product name or part number, or any keyword that makes sense. You can also limit your search, if you wish, to just the KB article number or title.

Remember that the most recent OptoKB articles are listed on the main Product Support page (just click on the Support tab), and that you can receive notices through RSS every time there's an addition to the OptoSupport Blog.

Get Your OptoGear

Some of you have asked us to make Opto 22 shirts and other items available for purchase. Now, they're easy to order right from our website.

Great-looking polo shirts in three colors, a keychain flashlight, and a coffee mug are available now. Other items will be added later.

So get your OptoGear now, and when people ask you, "What's an Opto?" you'll be able to tell them all about our reliable hardware, easy-to-use software, and helpful people. Heck, it's good advertising for us, plus great gear for you!

First "Shoot This, Opto!" Contest Winner Announced

Our first winner in the "Shoot This, Opto!" contest is Adam Carless of South Africa. He suggested, "It would be great to watch a demo on the Motion Control Equipment...a demo explaining the motion fundamentals and how the SNAP-SCM-MCH16, SNAP-SCM-BB4 and the Opto Motion Command Set are available to the user."

Great idea, and as our June winner, Adam will receive a gift certificate for a Nintendo Wii gaming system!

You could be our July winner and receive a Wii or a digital camcorder. Send in your ideas for tips, tricks, or features about Opto products that you'd like to have explained in our next online training video.

Current OptoScreencast videos introduce the SNAP PAC System and PAC Project software, for example, PAC Display Trends and PID Loop Control in PAC Control. All videos are in the Learn section of our website.

To enter the contest, just go to the Shoot This, Opto! forum in the OptoForums and submit your suggestion of a subject for our next OptoScreencast. The contest continues through August.