Leading tech company executives Chairman Craig Barrett of Intel and CEO John Chambers of  Cisco Systems firmly believe that technology is the key to improving lives worldwide.

The two technology leaders took turns on stage Friday, sharing the closing keynote for the CES expo in Las Vegas. Both executives are well known for their  belief that technology can be used to help the developing world. Both Barrett and Chambers have won multiple prestigious awards for their efforts to insure that tech is used to help eliminate poverty and suffering throughout the world. The stort was reported by CNET.com.

Craig Barret was the first to speak to the crowded room. He explained Intel’s new Small Things Challenge project, a partnership with the micro-financing firm Kiva and the charity organization Save The Children. The Small Things Challenge campaign is raising funds for both Kiva and Save the Children. Intel has promised to donate 5 cents for every person who visits the smallthingschallenge.com Web site, to be used in the push for development and education in emerging countries. In addition, Intel plans to provide up to $300,000 a year for the project.

During his presentation, Barrett cited several examples of how technology, including the new third generation Atom-processor-powered Classmate PC netbook, can help improve the lives of people living in poor countries. He urged every member of the audience to contribute to both Kiva and Save the Children. “You travel and see the impact that technology and your donations can have on children’s lives,” he said. “Whether it’s Kiva or Save the Children, it’s a small step toward making the world a better place. But each and every one of us can play a role.”

John Chambers was up next. As usual, his presentation was high-powered and riveting, centering on how developing countries can implement technology to pull themselves out of poverty. He built his presentation around education, infrastructure, innovation and the ability to identify market transitions, which he described as the “pillars of national competitiveness.”

Chambers said technology is important to developing nations because it helps drive economic growth, create jobs and improve productivity. He compared developing countries to commercial businesses, and then compared Cisco Systems successes over the years to what countries need to do in order to improve the lives of their citizens.

“Emerging countries are like companies,” Chambers said. “And they can follow the same path toward success. You must be able to execute. But you can’t have speed without vision. And catching market transitions determines whether a company or a country is successful.”

The presentation given by Barrett and Chambers point up the sorts of programs in which we should all try to get involved. Technology will be a deciding factor in the lives of millions of people this year and every year after. It is our job to make sure that the influence of technology is a positive one, coming to the rescue of people worldwide.

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Entry was posted on Saturday, January 10th, 2009 at 3:34 pm under Intel, Notebook, Technology.

Read more entries by Michael W. Jones.
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