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UO spin-off Life Technologies honored with 2007 Emerald Award

Company’s innovative communications software for the cognitively disabled gets nod from Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce

Life Technologies LLC – a spin-off company formed with the help of the University of Oregon’s Office of Technology Transfer – was chosen Sept. 25 for the annual Emerald Award for Innovation by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce.

Steve Fickas McKay Moore Sohlberg
Steve Fickas McKay Moore Solhberg
The award was announced during the fourth annual awards ceremony held at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. More than 400 local business and community leaders attended the event, according a chamber news release.

The award, which was sponsored by the Endeavor Law Group, recognized Life Technologies for its development of assistive software that has given new communication capabilities to people with cognitive disabilities, a group that includes more than 13 million Americans.

Life Technologies was co-founded by UO professors Steve Fickas, a professor of computer science, and McKay Moore Sohlberg, a professor of communication disorders and sciences. The company was formed around Coglink, a simplified email program that allows people with cognitive impairments who have not been successful with computers or mainstream software programs to participate in the digital world.

Communicating through Coglink allows users to stay connected with family and friends, maintain crucial support networks and enhance independent living. Life Technologies currently is exploring new ways of including people with a variety of other cognitive impairments such as autism, developmental disabilities and brain injury.

The other three Emerald Award winners (and category of each) were: PacificSource Health Plans, (Community); Café Yumm! (Environmental Values); and Bow-Tech Archery (Growth). Also recognized was Wildish Land Co., which was previously named the winner of the new Emerald Award as the Business of the Year.

The Emerald Awards is a program honoring businesses in the Eugene-Springfield area that contribute to the community’s vitality and quality of life by implementing sustainable business practices. Full details of the event and awards can be found on a special Chamber of Commerce Web site devoted to the Emerald Awards.

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