Posts Tagged ‘Kansas City Technology’
MDL Technology, KC Technology & Managed Service Company, Reviews Best Halloween Costumes For Your Laptop
Friday, October 12th, 2012
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Halloween is fast approaching and people are scrambling to find that perfect costume, but many will forget about dressing up their laptop. Bit Rebels, a company that prides itself on reporting the latest news on everything considered geek, recently shared its favorite Halloween laptop disguises, including a countryman in overalls and a manilla envelope, and the team at MDL Technology just had to share!
7 Great Halloween Costumes For Your Laptop
When we talk about great Halloween costumes, we’re usually talking about costumes made for human beings or our pets. However, there are many other things in our lives that deserve great Halloween costumes too. For example, if you are like me, your laptop goes with you pretty much everywhere, so it makes sense it should be able to get in on the Halloween fun too, right? In honor of our beloved MacBooks that we couldn’t live without, I present to you 7 great Halloween costumes for your laptop.
I originally read about this today in a cheeky article on Geek Sugar called Tech Or Treat: 10 Laptop Disguises For Halloween. It was such a cute article that I just had to turn around and share part of it with you today.
It actually had me consider dressing up my MacBook for Halloween. As Richard pointed out in an article yesterday, we often dress up our smartphones for one reason or another, but we rarely see people who have that same fun with their laptops. I usually just carry mine around in a standard, black laptop bag. It’s embarrassingly boring, and I think it might be time for something new. What do you think would be a great Halloween costume for your laptop?
So whether you want to dress your laptop in some overalls, make it look like a manila envelope or even hide it in a pizza box, hopefully these ideas will inspire you to have a little fun and dress up your laptop in some great Halloween costumes this season. The place you can get each laptop cover below is linked, so you can pick up any that you like. I also recommend clicking over to the original article on Geek Sugar to see the entire collection. After all, Halloween costumes come in all shapes and sizes, and they aren’t just for people and pets. Now if I can just figure out how to get my laptop to pass out candy at the front door on Halloween night, I’d be all set.
1. An Old-Timey Book
2. A Countryman In Overalls
3. A Manilla Envelope
KCnext Event at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park Draws Over 400 Attendees
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
By: Micah Pratt, director, and Valerie Jennings, CEO
KCnext has been attracting crowds across the metro, specializing in mobile apps, software development, IT and investors. Silicon Prairie has grown up! We had the privilege of attending the event last night with our clients and friends Steve Roatch, CEO of Twentyseven Global; Mark Dryer, president of MDL Technology; T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology; Greg Elliott, business development director at 1102 GRAND; and Todd Applegate, general manager at 1102 GRAND. We also had the honor of meeting with the editor and news editor at The Pitch, speaking with some of the area’s most influential technology pro’s including Ryan Weber, who was recently named KCnext president.
Anytime you bring together like-minded individuals, you can expect great things to happen. It was great to see how strong the technology community in Kansas City has become and it’s always amazing to see people come together to share ideas on how to transform Kansas City into a technology hotspot. Events like these reinforce why Kansas City is in the running to be named the most entrepreneurial city in America.
I can’t wait until the next KCnext event, and I urge everyone to join! Check out their calendar, follow them on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM and T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
About KCnext:
KCnext – The Technology Council of Greater Kansas City is the recognized regional technology effort for the Kansas City area. The Technology Council is promoting the region’s tech sector, supporting its members and galvanizing the tech industry.
MDL Technology, A Kansas City Managed Services IT Company, Recaps Startup Weekend Kansas City
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Two weekends ago, many Kansas City entrepreneurs, startup investors and technology professionals were privileged enough to participate in Startup Weekend Kansas City. Startup Weekend Kansas City not only gave those in attendance the chance discuss their business ideas and to see if their startup was a viable option but also to network with other area professionals.
Before the final presentations began, Royce Haynes, a Startup Weekend organizer, addressed the crowd and summed up why Kansas City was such an obvious fit for Startup Weekend. “Startup Weekend is all about bringing people together that don’t know each other. You get to meet people in the community and the teams who out of nowhere, come together and build a product over just one weekend,” Haynes said.
The Results
TutHopper, a web-based startup app that teaches programming and system architecture to children and adults through game play, walked away as the winner and won free office space from OfficePort for free months along with a booth as the Sprint Innovation Summit.
Adam Arredondo, a member of the TutHopper team which included entrepreneurs, developers, designers and coders, credited the win to how well the group worked together to reach a common goal. ”Our team was unselfish and hardworking with enough comic relief to keep everyone upbeat,” said Adam Arredondo of the group’s vibe. “It was a huge relief that the judges were able to look past the technical errors during our presentation and see the tremendous potential TutHopper really has.”
Second place went to Keyzio, an app that sends postcards to people interested in selling their homes to let them know that someone has shown interest in buying while third place was awarded to Grüple, an app that provides ways to conduct monetary reimbursements.
To learn more about Startup Weekend Kansas City and its results please visit www.kansascity.startupweekend.org
MDL Technology, A Kansas City Managed Services IT Company, Urges Tech Professionals To Attend CityCamp Kansas City
Thursday, April 19th, 2012
By: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Next weekend, CityCamp Kansas City will bring together elected officials, civic leaders, urbanists, technology professionals and more to discuss innovation in Kansas City. MDL Technology, a Kansas City managed services IT company, urges anyone who is interested in how the intersection of local government, city life and technology impact our community to attend this event.
When: Saturday, April 28th 9:00a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: OfficePort, Kansas City
The “unconference” series will focus on four main objectives:
- Gather local government officials, municipal employees, experts, programmers, designers, citizens and journalists to share perspectives and insights about the cities in which they live
- Develop patterns for using the Web to facilitate local government transparency and effective local governance
- Foster communities of practice and advocacy on the role of the Web, mobile communication, online information, and open data in cities
- Create outcomes that participants will act upon after the event is over
As Kansas Citians, attendees can expect to walk away with a clear understanding of:
- How technology enables us to work together across jurisdictions
- How we can empower citizens to take a greater part in the local government
- How open source software and open data save taxpayer money
- How we can increase online service delivery despite shrinking budgets
For more information on CityCamp Kansas City please visit www.citycampkc.org.
Startup Weekend Brings Together Kansas City Technology Companies and Entrepreneurs
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
By: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
What an exciting time to be part of the Kansas City technology community! This weekend, local entrepreneurs and business leaders will gather at Union Station to share ideas, educate the community and inspire action at Startup Weekend Kansas City.
Startup Weekends are 54-hour events where entrepreneurs and local developers, designers, marketers and other startup enthusiasts meet to discuss their business ideas to see if their startup is a viable option. The event kicks off Friday night with open mic pitches which allows attendees to first introduce their ideas and rally others to join their team. On Saturday and Sunday, these teams then focus on validating their ideas and practicing LEAN Startup Methodologies. Finally, on Sunday evening, teams present their demo to a panel of experts to receive feedback.
Adam Coomes, founder and CEO of Salt and organizer of Startup Weekend Kansas City, said, ”Startup Weekend is one of the most important events for Kansas City, especially as we gear up to become America’s Most Entrepreneurial City. Startup Weekend provides anyone, even those with day jobs, an opportunity to truly live in the startup world for a weekend, test an idea and bond with talented people. Real companies can come out of this weekend. There’s no better time to explore your passions.”
Benefits of Startup Weekend
1. Education
2. Networking
4. Learn new skills
5. Meet community leaders
6. Be part of a global community
Tickets to Startup Weekend Kansas City are $80 and will include meals, snacks and access to exclusive resources. If you want to just go Sunday and see all the presentations you can purchase a ticket for $15. Make sure you register here!
Watch this video to see how Startup Weekends are impacting entrepreneurs globally!
MDL Technology Urges Kansas City Tech Companies and Entrepreneurs To Apply For Flyover 50
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Kansas City has become a hub spot for entrepreneurs in a variety of industries including tech and art. We are excited to be part of a community that is under consideration as the most “entrepreneurial city” in the nation. Organizations such as PIPELINE, Think Big Partners and the Kauffman Foundation have played a huge role in molding startups to make Kansas City the success it is today.
Five Elms Capital, a venture capital and private equity firm, wants to highlight and honor the most exciting, beneficial and fastest growing companies in its Flyover 50 contest.
Why Apply?
1. Recruit top talent. Potential employees want to work for growing companies, and Flyover 50 honorees are recognized as the fastest growing in the middle of the country.
2. Increase Visibility. Members of the Flyover 50 benefit from local, national, and industry recognition as one of the premiere businesses in the middle of the country.
3. Network with other Flyover 50 winners. Cities in the middle of the country tend to be geographically spread out, and at times, entrepreneurs may feel isolated. The Flyover 50 was designed to allow honorees to share ideas, collaborate, and find ways to partner.
4. Validate success. Being honored as a member of the Flyover 50 validates your success to customers, employees, and potential partners.
5. Support the entrepreneurial cause in the Midwest.
Companies located in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas are eligible to apply.
About Flyover 50
Five Elms Capital created the Flyover 50 as a way to highlight hardworking entrepreneurs who are shaping the next generation of the communities we love. Flyover 50 honorees are the fastest growing companies in the middle of the country. To be honored as a member of the Flyover 50, a company must have annual revenue greater than $1 million in 2011.
The vast majority of both media coverage and capital is on the coasts. The Flyover 50 recognizes and celebrates the hard work and achievements of those who are building exciting companies in the middle of the country. Our fast-growing entrepreneurial community, highlighted by the Flyover 50 winners, provides plenty of reasons to land here!
Think Big Partners Take Kansas City Technology Startups To Silicon Valley
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Yesterday, 10 local technology startups left on a ‘field trip’ sponsored by Think Big Partners to Silicon Valley, an entrepreneurial mecca for technology businesses. The team at MDL Technology wants to wish each participant luck as they pitch their ideas to a number of investors at two different showcases.
Herb Sih, Think Big Partners co-founder, said, “The Think Big Field Trip is more than just an opportunity for Midwestern startups to get noticed and get funded. It’s also the chance for Think Big to go out to Silicon Valley and prove that big things are happening in the Midwest.”
Here is an article from Silicon Prairie News on the event as well as the startups participating.
Think Big Partners embarks on ‘field trip’ with 10 Midwestern startups
At a time of year when winter-weary travelers flock to sun-splashed beaches for spring break, 10 Midwestern startups are embarking on a coastal excursion of their own. But there won’t be much of a break involved in this spring trip.
Think Big Partners, the Kansas City, Mo.-based startup accelerator and business incubator, is chaperoning its Think Big Field Trip today through Friday, taking 10 startups to pitch in front of investors at two different showcases in Silicon Valley.
The 10 startups participating in the Field Trip (with descriptions courtesy of a Think Big Partners press release) are:
Audio Anywhere (Bixy): Audio Anywhere aims to increase ad revenues for online media platforms by a factor of 10. Ads are created through Bixy, the company’s self-service ad platform. Bixy is like Google AdWords for personalized interactive ads. Businesses utilize the Bixy toolkit to create their own ads in less than five minutes for as little as $50.
EyeVerify: Eveverify brings to market a software authentication module that will leverage the onboard cameras on mobile devices to take images of the blood vessels in the whites of the eyes to use as a unique biometric identifier, ultimately answering the question: who is holding the phone?
Klink Mobile: Klink Mobile enables the transfer of cellular airtime minutes and currency via a proprietary, cloud-based financial transaction platform.
LockerDome: Backed by Square co-founder, Jim McKelvey, LockerDome is one of the hottest sports startups in the country. LockerDome aims to be a person’s sports identity. The bet we’ve made is that people have three big personas in their life: social, professional, and recreational. Facebook covers social. LinkedIn covers professional. LockerDome wants to cover sports/recreational – an area that we believe people are more passionate about than any of the others and the only one of the three areas that completely transcends international borders.
LiveOn: LiveOn aims to be the brand that consumers and businesses trust to preserve their digital legacy.
ABPathfinder: ABPathfinder brings technology to Autism therapy by providing tools for therapists to use in their everyday assessments.
InvenQuery: InvenQuery is a technology platform with mobile application that seamlessly integrates inventory management and point-of-sale, with the ability to administer and publish an e-commerce website. IQ software is agile, scalable and easy to use while maintaining sophisticated reporting mechanisms managers depend on to measure success.
RollSale: RollSale has created a technology that will disrupt the traditional ways in which automotive dealers conduct their wholesale trade. RollSale is a communications platform where dealers are able to connect with other dealers in an environment that mimics the function and usability of common social networks.
SEIN Analytics: SEIN is bringing to market an open cloud application and database for analyzing asset-backed securities (ABS). SEIN is leveraging its proprietary web scraping and data mining technology to rapidly standardize data across all ABS categories. With $2.7 trillion in ABS outstanding, SEIN is directly addressing the pain points of this large market, while taking advantage of new regulatory proposals for increased transparency.
Kauzu: Kauzu is a company that seeks to innovate and empower the U.S. employment industry by providing a dynamic, online environment with unique tools to create meaningful, timely connections. Kauzu is like eHarmony.com meets eBay for the employment industry, which will make job search and hiring timely, active, and satisfying.
Gremln: Gremln.com makes it easy for businesses to easily and effectively market themselves and their products on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn. Gremln provides comprehensive messages management, success analytics and social media ROI analysis for businesses of every size. Engage, learn, and monitor return with Gremln.com.
Learn more about the two day trip here!
Kansas City Technology Scavenger Hunt To Raise Awareness and Build Support For Local KC Charities
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
By: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Two local Kansas City companies, Garmin International and Land Rover Merriam, recently announced its high-tech scavenger hunt in Kansas City to raise awareness and benefit local charities. The event, KC Cache Dash will take place on Saturday, March 24 starting at Garmin’s headquarters and ending at Land Rover Merriam and will include the use of GPS technology and social media to find the hidden treasure.
Supporters and participants will have the opportunity to donate to the charities involved which are; KidsTLC, Project Uplift, Sleepyhead Beds and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City.
Robert Hellweg, marketing and business development manager at Land Rover Merriam said, “KC Cache Dash is the first event we’ve seen that blends recreation, connectivity, competition and charity – all with the goal of educating the community about these amazing nonprofit groups. And by staying connected on social media, wherever you are on March 24, you’ll be able to support these organizations.”
To stay updated on the event news and details view the Facebook event page or follow the event on Twitter at @kccachedash.
New medical codes require massive IT overhaul
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
Posted by T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC
According to a new article posted on ComputerWorld.com, a federal mandate requiring health care companies to overhaul their IT solutions by 2013 for treatments, etc. will be almost impossible to meet. Here is the article written by Lucas Mearian. This is a great overview of the types of pressures that IT and health care are facing right now.
New medical codes require massive IT overhaul
Computerworld – A new federally mandated medical coding system designed to better track diagnoses and treatments is requiring a massive overhaul of healthcare IT systems that some say will be nearly impossible to complete on time.
Medical providers and insurance payers must move from the current ICD-9 coding system to ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2013.
“A large percentage of hospitals are in the heavy analysis stage, or they’re just starting,” said Casey Corcoran, a vice president at General Dynamics Information Technology, which offers ICD-10 consulting services.
The goal is to replace 15,000 seven-digit codes for medical transactions with 68,000 new, more granular codes, but the conversion comes at a time when providers are already racing to implement electronic health record systems.
The ICD-10 changeover will probably cost large hospitals $2 million to $5 million, and large healthcare groups as much as $20 million, said James Swanson, director of client services at Virtusa, an IT services provider.
“It is the kind of thing that people have compared to Y2K. It’s probably more complex than Y2K. There’s a lot more human interaction,” said Robert Alger, vice president of health plan IT strategy at Kaiser Permanente. Read More
Nextgov.com Announces: New technology may have prevented airport stun gun debacle
Friday, July 15th, 2011
Posted by T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
According to a recent article on nextgov.com, an incident at the airport may have been mitigated due to new technology. I want to congratulate the reporter who wrote this up. It was an outstanding review of the situation, how technology may play a critical role and where government security and tech is heading.
New technology may have prevented airport stun gun debacle
BY ALIYA STERNSTEIN 07/13/2011
The Transportation Security Administration had been upgrading carry-on baggage X-ray machines nationwide with multiangle viewers for more precise inspection, even before a smartphone-size stun gun apparently bypassed security at Boston’s Logan International Airport, according to a manufacturer that supplies both the older and newer technology.
The traditional imaging systems offer TSA personnel only a single, usually bottom-up, view of baggage contents, which may have made it difficult for staff to distinguish the weapon from permissible electronics, Smiths Detection officials said.
It is still unclear whether the forbidden device, which was found aboard a JetBlue plane at Newark Liberty International Airport last week, had gone through any screening system. Also unknown is what kind of machines were operating in the departure area.
The newer X-ray technology, which allows screeners to see items from various angles, likely would have enabled staff to spot components that are unique to stun guns, Smiths officials said.
The electronic weapon did not look like a handgun. TSA officials declined to say whether X-ray equipment could have detected the particular gadget recovered.