in the Park, the Wisconsin State fair, numerous ethnic festivals and Summerfest, the world-famous two-week long music festival celebrated on the Milwaukee lakefront.

As the state begins the season of celebrations, a less flattering tradition also comes to mind: Wisconsin residents are big drinkers. Last fall, in the impressive five-part series “Wasted in Wisconsin” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examined the state’s drinking culture. Wisconsin, the Journal Sentinel noted, is first in the country in binge drinking, drinkers in the population and driving under the influence. The paper also discovered that Wisconsin drinkers often underestimate how intoxicated they really are.

Like many other issues, technology may play a role in solving Wisconsin’s drinking problem. Symmetry, a company that specializes in assisting employees with substance abuse issues, has been using a tool called the “intoxiclock” to help educate audiences on alcohol impairment and blood alcohol content. A large touch screen allows users to input information including gender, weight, time spent drinking and number of drinks consumed. The intoxiclock then counts down the metabolizing of the alcohol in real time, giving audiences a memorable reminder of just how impaired they become when drinking.

The “intoxiclock” may not solve Wisconsin’s drinking issue by itself. However, it does serve as a reminder of how innovative technology can be applied to our state’s most pressing issues.