Features

creation low 

SAN FRANCISCO — Personnel reductions are expected to outpace additions in the San Francisco Bay area this winter, according to Manpower’s First Quarter 2002 Employment Outlook Survey. 

The report, released Monday, indicates 13 percent of firms interviewed expect their payrolls to increase in the new year, while 33 percent say fewer workers will be needed and 41 percent intend to stay at current levels. 

“A year ago employers were optimistic for the January-March period as 25 percent planned workforce additions, while 9 percent predicted cutbacks,” said Hal Adler of Manpower. 

The survey is based on telephone interviews with nearly 16,000 public and private employers in 482 U.S. markets. 

For the winter quarter, job prospects appear most likely in education and public administration, while cutbacks are envisioned in construction, non-durable goods manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade and services. 

outbreak warnings 

STANFORD — An experimental early warning system for suspicious disease outbreaks is being tested at the Stanford University Medical Center emergency room. 

It’s part of a nationwide push to brace for potential bioterrorism attacks. 

The new surveillance system is built around an Internet connection and special computer terminals at the emergency room’s triage desk. For every incoming patient, nurses transmit key details about symptoms to local health authorities. 

The goal is to provide lead time to improve odds of rescuing the first victims, stopping a pathogen from spreading and aiding in police investigations. Eventually, emergency rooms throughout the county may be asked to participate. 

The system — designed by designed by Health Hero Network of Mountain View — is called BASIICS, or Biothreat Active Surveillance Integrated Information and Communication System. 

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Public Library is introducing a wireless local area network that will connect 120 computers in 17 sites. 

The network was made possible by a $100,000 Urban Challenge Grant from 3Com Corp. 

“We do have computer labs at the main library which most branches don’t have because of wiring and limited space constraints,” said community relations librarian Kathleen Hirooka. “What we needed in some of the tight areas was the ability to have some flexibility in moving the computers around.” 

The wireless LANs that will be installed use radio frequencies to transmit data. A LAN PC card communicates with a wireless access point that is connected to the wired network via standard cabling. In this specific case the card can send and receive data a distance of up to about 300 feet. 

Installation at the main library, 15 branch libraries and the Second Start Adult Literacy Program should be completed in three months, said administrative librarian Gerry Garzon.