Intel Chairman Craig Barrett Talks The Impact of Technology

Kicking off IDF this morning was Intel Chairman of the Board Craig Barrett. Barrett took center stage at the Moscone Center in San Fransisco not to talk about the future of Intel products but about the impact of technology on the people of the world.

“You all play an important role in the advancement of technology but also in the well being of the people around the world,” he said.

Barrett criticized the U.S. for a relative lack of focus on education, and funding R&D and innovation. The Intel’s mission for its next billion customers became crystal clear as he discussed the importance of spreading technology to all parts of the world. “A good teacher is the best tool for a good education anywhere in the world,” he stated.  Technology, on the other hand, is a great tool for furthering education. He mentioned the mission of One Laptop Per Child to give every child a computing device as well as Intel’s Classmate project as being key to spreading technology around the world.

He then called Dr. Johnny Chung Lee on stage to show the importance of educational technology innovation. Chung Lee has created a low cost technology whiteboard  using a Wii remote and Infared pens. Lee demoed his whiteboard invention in person, but you can visit his site for an online demo.

Barrett called a number of other guests up to the stage including the founder of KIVA, a  micro-lending site that provides a platform for donating money to future entrepreneurs anywhere in the world. He also discussed healthcare technology via a VoIP video call with two doctors in India.

He ended the hour-long speech by annoucing Intel’s Challenge (intelchallenge.com), which calls for the best technology solutions to address four areas of global need – education, healthcare, economic development, and the environment. The contest will award $100,000 to one winner in each category and will be annouced at the Spring IDF in Shanghai.