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Wichita
might be in a recession, but don't tell the guys at Yellow
Brick Road Technologies. They build high-tech home theater
and other home electronics systems, integrating televisions,
stereos and computers - and they say business is good. Co-owner
Jamie Weidman said he's worked on jobs from $2,000 to $250,000.
"After Sept. 11, people are finding they don't want to
get out and about," Weidman said. "A home theater
means they don't have to leave their house to get the same
quality as Warren Theatre."
The
company is in the process of renovating space at 411 N. Woodlawn
Blvd. into a store to really show off their products. It should
be open Jan. 30. Linda Hickam, an agent with Plaza Real Estate's
commercial division, handled the lease.
Weidman
sets up the audio-video systems and co-owner Kurt McPhail
builds custom computers and home networks. Right now, there's
only some overlap, but eventually, computers and entertainment
technology will routinely be tied together. For instance,
McPhail said, one of their most popular jobs is Internet -
enabled video surveillance. A person at a remote site can
log on to the Internet and, through cameras at their home,
watch what's going on there. It's not as sinister as it sounds,
McPhail said. It's mostly for businessmen and sports stars
who want the ability to monitor their home for break-ins or
talk to their family. "It's amazing how many we're doing
right now," McPhail said.
Weidman
and McPhail have known each other for years. When Weidman
quit his previous job and got a call from a client wanting
to know about a computer network, he called his friend and
computer expert, who had just returned from San Diego to be
closer to family. That grew into an idea for a new business:
bringing cutting-edge technology to Wichita.
"We
wanted to bring the technology from the West Coast at the
same rate it is being developed," Weidman said.
"We
want to mainstream Wichita, instead of waiting the three or
four years it usually takes. There's a lot of cool stuff out
there."
Reach
Yellow Brick Road Technologies at 682-3411.
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