A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial calls for tougher laws on texting and cell phone use while driving.  Several other states have passed legislation limiting the use of cell phones while behind the wheel, and the U.S. Senate is considering a federal ban on texting while driving. The editorial calls on Wisconsin to set strict limits on using mobile devices while operating a vehicle.

Federal legislation is appropriate, but Wisconsin can act on its own: Legislators should stop nibbling around the edges and, at the very least, ban texting by all drivers and ban the use of cell phones by drivers who have just obtained their driver’s licenses. Increasing fines for inattentive driving and presuming that the use of a cell phone is cause for a determination of inattentive driving also would be good steps. 

We all know using cell phones while driving can be dangerous, and recent studies have shown that texting while driving can be more dangerous than driving drunk.  Cell phones, PDAs and other mobile devices have changed the way people communicate, but how should the use of these technologies be limited to keep the roads safe?

As reported in a recent story by Doris Hajewski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, two Minnesota firms are opening offices in Eau Claire, moves that could bring up to 90 jobs to the State.

 

Genesis10, a technology firm in Woodbury, Minn., has already opened its Eau Claire location that will add 40 jobs.  RAI Stone Group, a Minneapolis financial services firm, plans make the move to Wisconsin in August, bringing as many as 50 jobs over the next 3 years.

 

Wisconsin state leaders have been working to create an environment that welcomes technology industry growth.  In February, Gov. Jim Doyle and the Legislature expanded the state investment tax credit.  Wisconsin doubled the cap on the amount of credits that a qualified business may use to $8 million, raised the cap on eligible angel investments to $4 million and tripled the total credits available each year to $37 million.

 

Wired Wisconsin supports creating a favorable environment for high-tech job creation and industry development within the state. The fact that high-tech companies are choosing Wisconsin over other states shows that the right investments—even in troubled times— can pay dividends.  Wisconsin needs more proactive thinking on high-tech job creation in other sectors.

Check out this editorial by Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council:

 

Appleton Post-Crescent

Published June 24, 2009

 

The image of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior region is that of a laid-back vacation getaway, a place where a woman’s motorcycle club from Manitowoc can share a lakeside bar with preppie sail boaters from Chicago and a smattering of locals. And everyone gets along.

 

Tourism long has been a pillar of the economy in the Lake Superior region, along with three other traditional “Ts” — timber, transportation and taconite, an iron-bearing rock that is still shipped from the ports in Duluth and Superior.

 

Of late, however, a fifth “T” has crept into the local development vocabulary — technology.

 

Persistent efforts by private industry in the region, backed by economic development professionals, higher education and several statewide groups, have accelerated the diversification of the Northwoods economy. Some of those efforts were on display at this month’s meeting of the Wisconsin Technology Council in Ashland; others will be highlighted at the Lake Superior Technology Conference Aug. 5-6 in Ashland. Most important, they’re all emblematic of long-term commitment.

 

A group of Lake Superior region businesses told Tech Council board members how they have come together to forge a Chequamegon Bay area manufacturing alliance that could mean more jobs and better value for their customers.

 

The North Star Manufacturing Alliance involves four businesses, including Ashland Industries in Ashland, Washburn Iron Works in Washburn, Eagle Forge in Ashland, and World Class Precision Products in Bayfield. Products and services produced by the four include metal fabrication, steel and aluminum forging, precision machining, mold, die and pattern making, production welding, paint and powder coating, prototype development, layout and design, and assembly, packaging and shipping.

 

Bob Peltonen of World Class Precision Products said the alliance combines the manufacturing strengths of all four companies to provide more value to clients by being able to offer them a single point of service for related tasks and products.

 

Other examples of economic growth leveraged by technology include businesses in health care, heavy equipment, synthetic lubricants, transportation logistics and biofuels.

 

The Lake Superior economy may always rest on wise use of the region’s natural resources, but technology is increasingly providing added value for customers and jobs for those who produce the goods and services. The region may never be a technology hub, but those who care about its future are also determined not to be a forgotten side road.

• Check out our latest blog post: Wisconsin Firm Offers System for Paying Medical Bills Online http://bit.ly/Z4wVd #
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• #wsts Lots of collaboration happening at the WI Science and Tech Symposium #
• RT @WiStateJournal: Update: Madison’s tech sector is growing http://bit.ly/jcXEA #
• Getting inspired by Governor Doyle’s remarks at the WI Science and Tech Symposium #wsts “even in tough times we need to keep edu priority” #
• Very excited to be attending and sponsoring the Wisconsin Science and Technology Symposium at UW La Crosse #wsts #
• Milwaukee forum brings inventors, entrepreneurs together – http://bit.ly/149vsV #
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• MkeBizJournal: New firms using technology to link job seekers, employers http://bit.ly/17o9Su #
• WW Blog: St. Mary Central High School in Menasha to provide laptops for all students – http://bit.ly/gI1Wc #

In an interesting report by LaToya Dennis of Milwaukee Public Radio, we learn that while many hospitals are making the push towards electronic medical records, online bill-paying is lagging behind in the medical world. LaserNet, a Green Bay tech company, is offering software to make online bill paying easier for hospitals and patients.

 

“The reality is, is that hospital systems have been so focused on electronic medical records that they haven’t had time to follow that up with the online billing availability that you’ve come to expect in just about any other industry,” [LaserNet founder Ane] Ohm says.

 

In 2007, LaserNet developed TransData 360, a system that allows hospital patients to view their most up-to-date bills online and make payments. Jeff Hampton, who manages billing at Bellin Health, said the system is saving his organization money.

 

“The consolidated payment process has reduced the number of statements that we send out by 30 percent,” Hampton says.

 

Wired Wisconsin supports local innovation that makes life easier for Wisconsin residents. With privacy safeguards in place, electronic medical records and online bill paying can make hospital visits safer, easier and less expensive.

 

 

 

• Rural Wisconsin to get wired with state-of-the-art fiber optic cable – http://bit.ly/13VjJS #
• Reading: Computer recycler says state efforts need a boost
  by Brian E. Clark for WisBusiness.com – http://bit.ly/3HLlfl #
• WWBlog: Survey Says… WI Tech leaders confident economy will bounce back http://bit.ly/TN636 #
• University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc and UW-Stout get grants to boost sciences
  http://bit.ly/nJwu5 #
• Wisconsin tech professionals optimistic – http://bit.ly/3ZKJ9 #
• WW Blog: State Rep. introduces online privacy bill – http://bit.ly/GIkoZ #
• WW Blog: WI libraries have near universal wi-fi access http://bit.ly/libwifi #
• UW-Superior students use technology to take out Great Lake pests http://bit.ly/Jp6kL #

As reported by Andy Thompson in the Appleton Post Crescent, St. Mary Central High School is embarking on a plan that will eventually provide every student and teacher with a laptop.

 

St. Mary’s 2010 freshmen class will receive laptops this fall, with the rest of the students following suit over the next two years. Once the plan is fully implemented, all 200+ students of St. Mary’s will have a personal laptop for homework, projects and day-to-day curriculum. The school plans to lease the laptops to students at an undetermined monthly fee and make them available for purchase when they graduate.

 

School officials say the one-to-one laptop system may be the way of the future:

 

“It allows for a lot greater flexibility and a mobile learning environment,” said Eric Siems, technology director for the Twin City Catholic Education System, which includes St. Mary Central, a middle school and three elementary schools. “This is the way to go.”

 

Jennifer Miller, director of student recruitment for TCCES, said the entire campus of St. Mary Central is wireless capable.  The system, Miller said, is capable of simultaneously running 300 computers.

 

“We want to best prepare the students for the future and we want to give them the best tools to be able to learn,” Miller said

 

Wired Wisconsin recognizes the value of technology in education. We support efforts to provide Wisconsin students with the tools necessary to succeed in a 21^st century world.

As reported by Larry Avila in the Appleton Post-Crescent, technology professionals throughout Wisconsin see a light at the end of the tunnel through today’s slumping economy.

 

The news comes as a result of a comprehensive survey of IT professionals conducted by the Wisconsin Technology Council, WisBusiness.com and the Lumis Group, a Madison-based marketing company.  Of the 277 tech companies surveyed, 45 percent believed the economy would improve in the next year, compared to only 18.7 percent who thought it would get worse.

 

“There does seem to be some sense of optimism among the respondents,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Depending on which sector you examine, most are optimistic about their future.”

 

According to a WTC estimate, Wisconsin’s technology sector represents a $1 billion industry. TechAmerica, a national technology industry monitor, estimates Wisconsin is home to approximately 85,000 technology professionals.

 

Wired Wisconsin recognizes the importance of fostering a vibrant and robust technology industry in the state. As the tech sector continues to grow, so does the value of learning from technology professionals. Surveys like this—led by Still at the WTC—help educate our state leaders from the new drivers of the Wisconsin economy.

Currently, it’s fairly easy to find someone’s personal address on one of Wisconsin’s online government databases, a troubling thought for residents who want to keep that information private. State Representative Joe Parisi introduced legislation to help keep Wisconsin residents’ personal information secure.

 

Parisi on the availability of home addresses:

 

“This is particularly troubling for people who are victims of stalking or domestic violence and have taken steps to keep their home address confidential, especially because the victim is probably not even aware that the internet database exists. This legislation will also help protect the privacy of other citizens, such as law enforcement officers, who have a legitimate interest in keeping their home address confidential.”

 

The legislation would prohibit online government databases from being searchable by name. Government sites that already have search-by-name capability would be forced to remove the search field.

With greater technology growth, comes greater responsibility for government officials and technology providers to ensure that internet privacy becomes and remains a priority. Technology growth is dependent on the consumer’s trust that their private information is protected. Wired Wisconsin supports efforts to keep online information secure.