• Orion nets 22nd energy patent – system reduces energy bills, decrease install costs and reduce carbon footprint: http://tinyurl.com/m5lapo #
• GE Healthcare in Waukesha unveils cutting-edge MRI designed for obese and claustrophobic patients: http://tinyurl.com/gemri #
• RT @TheNewNorth Fox Valley residents find more online job resources – http://bit.ly/MnZ3P #
• RT @TheNewNorth Eye doctor's invention headed for space station – http://bit.ly/2lQblg #
• Milwaukee's 3 engineering schools form 1st-ever collaboration: joint center for energy technology research: http://tinyurl.com/3engin #
• Aurizon Ultrasonics of Appleton will commercialize technology developed at Kimberly-Clark for new products: http://tinyurl.com/kktech #

• Rural Wisconsin working to get broadband. Great story by JS reporter, Rick Barrett. http://www.jsonline.com/business/53623667.html #
• A glimpse into the future? Technology. The constant evolution. http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/05/augmented.reality.phone.apps/index.html #
• Texting while driving is a terrible idea: WARNING: This video is very graphic in nature. http://bit.ly/pSvuO #
• Being able to find a business online is key to it's success! http://bit.ly/1hMLh
  Wired Wisconsin translation: Having Broadband is a must!! #

With the deadline for submitting broadband stimulus fund proposals this Friday, many in Wisconsin will wait anxiously to hear if their communities will be given the federal dollars needed to bring them up to speed—literally.

According to an article by Rick Barrett of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,

About 80% of Wisconsin residents have access to some type of broadband through cable television providers or telephone companies, according to industry figures. But coverage gaps in rural areas are a problem as businesses and individuals increasingly turn to the Internet for everything from online sales to entertainment.  

For those of you with broadband, imagine getting directions (remember maps? you know the paper kind?) or making a big purchase (farewell online price comparisons or customer reviews) without that high-speed connection. Without a doubt most of us would be frustrated.

Hilbert Communication, based in Green Bay, and many other communication firms are working to address some of that real frustration felt in over 26 Wisconsin counties.

“With or without stimulus funds, we are pursuing broadband in rural areas,” Hilbert President Steve Schneider said.

This is great news for rural Wisconsin communities and businesses. Not only will broadband expansion projects create jobs, but the competition between communication companies will provide a greater choice in service opportunities and costs.

• Hey Followers, We want you to be part of the great discussion we’re having throughout WI Join IN @ http://www.wiredwisconsin.org/join #
• Centrose opens in Madison: producing new drugs using proprietary sugar chemistry after raising more seed financing http://bit.ly/E1W3L #
• Wisconsin scores another biotech start up, this time from Boston: http://tinyurl.com/bostonbio #
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• WW Blog: Wisconsin needs broadband map! http://bit.ly/atHQy #
• Madison based Internet service provider 5Nines Data brings Expands to Milwaukee http://bit.ly/tKD5y #
• Still Time!! Sign up for LinkedIn Live Waukesha, a live networking event hosted by @MKELive. The event starts at 5:30. http://bit.ly/1VnNho #
• Just presented Wired Wisconsin to the Madison Optimist Club. Their issue? 21st Century E-Learning BC our kids deserve it! #

Watch our interview with State Representative Jon Richards.

A recent article by Patrick Garmoe in Business North reports of the disadvantages for communities in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin without high-speed internet access.  Areas with limited access have difficulty attracting businesses, transmitting medical data, and tasks as simple as downloading bank statements.

In order to help these underserved communities, $7.2 billion in federal funds will become available this fall to expand broadband capabilities in rural areas. While about 60 different groups have already applied for funding in Wisconsin, the state is still in need of a broadband coverage map to detail which areas need the most help.  Without a map, the state may have trouble competing with other states for federal funds.

The lack of high-speed internet impedes the free flow of information, hinders economic growth, and stalls the effective use of resources and connections within the state. Wired Wisconsin supports policies—including the creation of a state-wide broadband map—that expand service opportunities statewide.

• Wired Wisconsin is taking our state into the future…are you IN or OUT? http://www.wiredwisconsin.org/join To be IN. #
• UW-Madison professor recognized by the Internet Society for its contributions as a precursor to the modern Internet http://bit.ly/rSqFD #
• WI Dep of Commerce Sec.Leinenkugel @Lake Superior TechCon: Cost effectiveness key to bringing tech investments to WI http://bit.ly/rSqFD #
• RT @Milwaukee_News UWM partners with industry on water technology – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: http://bit.ly/Licog #
• ATT to invest up to $565 million to roll out alternative-fuel cars…plus…http://bit.ly/EUZOA ( http://bit.ly/23nn7 ) #
• Wow!: Adoption of health information technology and electronic medical records can save $3.5 billion in Wisconsin http://bit.ly/3UwLox #
• Good News for WI: Johnson Controls wins $299 million for hybrid battery development http://bit.ly/BhQ4W ( http://bit.ly/1ewtL ) #
• State Rep. Soletski:Passing bill show serious about protecting environ http://bit.ly/hVFsJ ( http://bit.ly/rqEKN ) #
• Reading: “Emerging Biotech Industries Receive Growth Investments – Money News Story – WISC Madison” ( http://bit.ly/qFaEh ) #
• Good News for WI: Investment in biotechnology brings 34,000 high paying jobs to the state – http://bit.ly/1xvrP #
• WW issue: Green Technology: UWStevensPoint research could lead to less costly solar cells ( http://bit.ly/qsxxT ) #
• Check out this interesting editorial: Broadband, so what? Here’s what http://bit.ly/1OXRjb #

As the debate over health care reform rages on, everyone can agree that we should be looking for ways to reduce the cost of health care. Evidently, technology can help rein in costs a great deal.

 

According to a report released by the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, the adoption of health information technology and electronic medical records can save Wisconsin $3.5 billion in health care costs and $180 billion nationwide. Currently, many health care providers are using outdated IT and medical record systems. The report detailed a total of $3 trillion in potential savings on health care costs.

 

Wired Wisconsin supports the utilization of technology to help make health care more affordable. With privacy safeguards in place, electronic medical records and IT improvements can make hospital visits safer, easier and less expensive.

At a time when many local industries are hurting, the field of biotechnology is booming in Wisconsin.  A recent report by LaToya Dennis of WUWM detailed the growth of the biotech industry in the state.  According to the story, the number of biotech companies in Wisconsin has grown from 200 in 2005 to around 600 today.  Paul Radspinner of BioForward—a Wisconsin based trade organization—says the rate of growth is sustainable:

 

“The population is getting older, the population needs medicine. Technology is becoming more complex. Things like stem cells, the number of stem cell companies that we have popping up here now that’s going to continue. It’s here and it’s going to stay,” Radspinner says.

 

Zach Brandon of the state Department of Commerce says the growth of the biotech field is due in large part to Wisconsin’s investment in the industry:

 

“Between 2002 and 2007 there was $50 million annually invested in biotechnology within the state of Wisconsin,” Brandon says.  He says Wisconsin put a lot of money into the biotech industry and it’s paying off. So far, it’s meant 34,000 high paying jobs. 

 

Wired Wisconsin recognizes that technology is vital to the economic well-being of the state.  Even with the recent national economic downturn, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development predicted that by 2016, technology-related jobs will show an increase of 246,000 positions.  Wisconsin should continue to foster an environment that is welcoming to hi-tech businesses.

• Network poolside! Check out @MKElive’s Linked in Live Milwaukee event at Brynwood Country Club this Monday. Resgister: http://bit.ly/1VnNho #
• Technology leads police to car theif http://bit.ly/yJbJQ #
• Should Wisconsin put limits on cell phone use while driving? Read more on our blog at http://bit.ly/1cWp1z #
• Reading: “Stimulus funds research at Wisconsin universities – JSOnline” ( http://bit.ly/RmUSK ) #
• Good News for WI: “Two Minnesota firms moving office to Eau Claire – JSOnline” ( http://bit.ly/3ibPJc ) #
• Check out this op-ed by Tom Sill, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, on the tech industry in northern WI http://bit.ly/N0B4q #
• So you’re following us here, maybe even RT some of our Tweets, but are you part of the Wired Wisconsin discussion? http://bit.ly/WWJumpIN #
• Just added myself to the http://wefollow.com twitter directory under: #news #broadband #tech #
• Good News WI: Governor Doyle says the future of Wisconsin depends on a strong, high-tech based economy. http://bit.ly/LjuHI #
• WW Blog: UW-Stout Program Gives Companies the Tech Tools to Thrive http://bit.ly/qIvtW #
• “Online classes: Convenient option or growing cash cow for UWM? JSOnline reporter Erica Perez ( http://bit.ly/sIYXv ) #
• Wireless providers coming to Ashwaubenon for conference http://bit.ly/ZQ70l #