(Autodesk, Inc., San Rafael, CA, www.autodesk.com) A leading provider of computer-aided design (CAD) software, founded in 1982. It introduced AutoCAD in its first year, and three years later, became the first PC CAD company to go public. The company has since expanded its product line to include design software for multimedia and home improvement. The company has more than four million users in more than 150 countries, and its products are available in more than 20 foreign languages. See AutoCAD.