[governance] NN | Let IGF separate Fact-&-Fiction from clever Marketing

[Yehuda Katz]

Execs see technology as economic equalizer

By: Marguerite Reardon CNET News/CBS Interactive
January 9, 2009 8:01 PM PST

Art. Ref.:
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10139537-100.html
--

LAS VEGAS--Two of the tech industries biggest champions for using technology to
eliminate poverty in the developing world took the stage at the Consumer
Electronics Show here on Friday for the final keynotes of the conference.

The message that the executives brought to the crowd at CES was simple:
Technology is key to improving the lives of billions of poor people throughout
the world. Intel Chairman Craig Barrett and Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers
have each received awards and have been lauded for their work in helping fight
poverty throughout the world. 

Barrett took the stage first, where he promoted Intel's newly formed program
called Small Things Challenge, a partnership the company announced this week
with microfinancing firmKiva.org and Save the Children. 

As part of this campaign, which is raising funds for Kiva and Save the
Children, Intel has promised to donate 5 cents for every person who visits the
Smallthingschallenge.com Web site, to push for development and education in
emerging countries. And Intel plans to provide up to $300,000 a year for the
project.

During the keynote, Barrett provided several examples of how technology,
including the new third generation Classmate PC Netbook, which uses Intel's
low-power Atom chip, can help improve the lives of people living in poor
countries. And he urged everyone in the audience to contribute to 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."

Intel has enlisted the help of several celebrities to get the word out about
the Small Things Challenge. And two of the celebrities supporting the effort,
joined Barrett on stage, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Adam Duritz of Counting
Crows.

Chambers didn't need star power when he took the stage later in the afternoon.
The charismatic executive walked among the crowd like a Southern preacher at a
church revival. But his message was less about philanthropy and giving back as
an individual, and more about how developing countries can implement technology
to pull themselves out of poverty.

He started off describing what he considers the "pillars of national
competitiveness" that will make developing nations more prosperous. The pillars
are education, infrastructure, innovation, the ability to identify market
transitions, a supportive government, and collaboration.

He said technology is important to developing nations because it helps drive
economic growth, create jobs and improve productivity. And he said it could
help improve the quality of life of people, especially when it comes to health
care.

Chambers likened developing countries to businesses, and he compared his own
company's successes in growing its business over the years to what countries
must do to improve the lives of their citizens. He said that countries, like
companies, need to look out for market transitions. But he also said that they
need to have a clear vision of where they want to go, and they must be able to
execute on that vision. What's more, new ideas need to be able to scale as well
as be sustainable.

"Emerging countries are like companies," he 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."

---

Credit: Marguerite Reardon CNET News/CBS Interactive
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell
phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well
as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies

-30-

P.S.:
NN | Let IGF separate Fact-&-Fiction from clever Marketing

Industrialist obviously see NN as an opportunity... for profitable business.
How will the IGF distill the Myths?
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