The ever-changing world of government requires more and more technology!

One system recently installed in Texas is Texas A&M University's "Code Maroon," which allows TAMU officials to communicate health and safety messages to everyone in a distribution system. At Texas Tech University, an Emergency Alerts program is in place that allows campus officials to relay voice messages to as many as four phone numbers for each individual. Stephen F. Austin State University not only has an electronic alert system, but an outdoor audio alert system as well. The University of Texas at Dallas has installed both an e-mail channel that has the capability of sending electronic messages and a reverse 9-1-1 system for broadcasting voice alerts to land-line telephones on campus.

Public schools in Texas are embracing the same type of technology to alert students and parents when there are hazardous conditions at the school, early dismissals, inclement weather conditions, school cancellations or even bus route delays.

Some Texas cities and counties are incorporating technology that allows mapping to wireless customers so that emergency responders can quickly find any caller's location. In Nacogdoches, the city's police department spearheaded an effort to encourage counties in East Texas to develop an Amber Alert system to track down child abductors.

Regional interoperable radio systems are critical to emergency personnel, law enforcement officers and firefighters. First responders must have the ability to cross city and county lines and still communicate with each other via diverse radio systems. Millions of dollars in state and federal grants have been made available for interoperability projects.

In the healthcare field, technology is being used for electronic medical records, computerized clinical support systems, computerized physician order entry and the exchange of medical information among different regions of the state.

Technology also allows distance learning at universities. At Texas A&M-Kingsville, the university's Center for Distance Learning and Continuing Education allows students access to off-campus instruction and allows business, industry and professional organizations to present non-credit courses, conferences, workshops, seminars and training for continuing education credits. Texas Tech's Division of Outreach and Distance Education offers K-12 programs for one student, a classroom or a whole school district!

Whether it's software, hardware, mapping tools, security systems, cameras, video equipment, radios or communications equipment, the technology needs of government entities have changed and will continue to change. This attractive marketplace will only expand in the future.