TechStar Winners

Johnson City Police Department’s Wireless reporting provides the officers with immediate information from many sources including the National Crime Information Center, (FBI) as well as State and local databases. It provides officers with real-time wanted information as well as driver’s history on any individual they might contact. Officers create Crime Reports, Arrest Reports, Traffic and parking citations, and traffic crash reports all from a handheld Windows Mobile device. Handheld devices capture the signature of violators and with wireless Bluetooth printers we are able to print the citation in seconds. All this greatly reduces the officer contact/paperwork time, putting them back on patrol in minutes.

City of Kingsport, Higher Education Center for the Use of Technology in Government Agencies:

Technology Feature #1- Smart Center Classroom - A key component of the new Kingsport Center for Higher Education (KCHE) will will be a Smart Center classroom where teachers will have access to a variety of interactive resources to effectively manage the classroom. The easy-to-use state of the art technology will encourage spontaneous, interactive lectures.

Technology Feature #2 – Green Building Technology - Kingsport’s new $15 million Center for Higher Education is among the first LEED certified education buildings in the state of Tennessee. The facility will actually generate solar power to be sold back onto the power grid. LEED Certification is achieved through meticulous consideration of numerous aspects of sustainability, including building location design, material usage and construction practices.

TN Technology Center at Elizabethton for Use of Technology in Education:

Juniors and Seniors in high schools in Elizabethton and Carter County will be one step closer to entering the 12-month practical nurse training program at the TN Technology Center at Elizabethton when they complete an on-line training class in December, 2009. Those who complete the “Dosage Calculations for Nurses” will receive academic credit in high school and at TTC- Elizabethton when they complete admission requirements to the nursing program.

The online Dual Credit Training Program is a pilot project sponsored by the TN Dept. of Education and the TN Board of Regents through its online Degree program. “It is the first online, dual credit course in practical nursing training offered in the state of TN” stated Terri Blevins, director of the nursing program.

Wellmont Health Systems for Use of Technology by Non-profit Group/Agency:

The Mammography Reporting System (MRS) is used throughout all Wellmont Health System (WHS) facilities to provide a fast and accurate communication for the patients on their mammography care process and screenings. The application meets ACR licensure and Radiologist requirements for time savings while improving accuracy and mitigating medical/legal issues. MRS also provides accurate statistical tracking on specifics, such as call back rates and sensitivity.

While the MRS system has only been in production for a few months, Wellmont Health Systems has already recognized several benefits, including:

First TN Human Resource Agency for Use of Technology by Non-profit Group/Agency:

Products donated through TechSoup enable FTHRA to increase the reach of programs to local elderly and disabled adults. A commonality to nonprofits is the inability to afford advertisement of programs and services offered. FSI has been able to advertise programs and services with professional quality brochures which has been invaluable to FSI. Family Services Institute's umbrella agency, First Tennessee Human Resource Agency, has been in existence for over thirty years. However, employees routinely report clients say, "They wish they would have known about services earlier." An average of 2,000 brochures are distributed annually to increase the awareness of services offered.

Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance for Use of Internet or Web Technologies:

Tri-Cities Prospector was developed to assist companies with selecting sites/buildings in the Tri-Cities region. The site was developed by GIS Planning (San Francisco, CA), which specializes in developing GIS-based websites for economic development organizations. Tri-Cities Prospector integrates Google Maps technology. Visitors can search for available commercial and industrial properties of all sizes. Once they have identified a site they can run demographic, labor and business reports within a specified radius around the property. Google Street View will allow you to do a drive by of the site. The website also includes several GIS layers, including traffic counts, colleges, and airports. By partnering with regional and local commercial real estate brokers, developers, economic developers and municipalities, the Tri-Cities Economic Development Alliance has been able to populate the site with nearly 300 commercial and industrial properties. The Alliance is using this tool to attract new businesses to locate to the Tri-Cities, while providing a valuable resource tool to individuals and existing businesses.

Advanced Technical Solutions for Application of Technology within a Small Business:

Advanced Technical Solutions (ATS) has gained exclusive ATP Certification for Cisco's Unified Contact Center Enterprise Solution Portfolio. ATS has become the first West Virginia and East Tennessee based company to be recognized as an Authorized Technology Provider in the Unified Contact Center Enterprise marketplace. ATS is the 27th company out of thousands of Cisco partners to receive such a prestigious certification.

The average time it takes for a company to complete this grueling certification process is nine months. ATS became the fastest company to gain this certification by completing it in 3 months. To do this, ATS had all of the courses and labs in-sourced to their facility and trained every IP Telephony engineer. It was a huge investment of time and resources but has been well worth the effort. It makes ATS a major player in the contact center industry.

Internetwork Engineering for Application of Technology within a Large Business:

Internetwork Engineering provided full wireless coverage using Cisco's Lightweight Wireless Control System for a Healthcare provider who employs 40,000 employees.

Today there are 2,000 access points located throughout its 223 nursing homes. The Cisco Unified Wireless Network has extended mobility to clinicians, physical therapists, and doctors, enabling them to spend more time with residents and improving the quality of care. Certified Nurse Assistants now chart the daily clinical activities of residents, and physical therapists record documentation in real time from the patient rooms. Visiting physicians access electronic medical records, lab results, and hospital patient information via the secure guest access network, tracking each resident's care carefully. Providing Internet services for residents and their families also improves the quality of life in the nursing homes.

Computers 4 Kids (C4K) is a Connected Tennessee program that is leveraging technology for the benefit of disenfranchised children in Tennessee. By extending the reach of public-private partnerships, Computers 4 Kids has positively impacted the future of the children and families who are facing economic challenges, are in the foster care system, or struggle with behavioral disorders and other issues.

Over the past 18 months, Connected Tennessee has placed more than 2,000 computers in the hands of disadvantaged populations so they can perform basic computing functions and have access to abundant educational, informational, governmental and research resources that are available on the Internet.