By Tim Mohin, Director of Corporate Responsibility at AMD.

Goosebumps and tears…  This is a phrase I heard recently that, while glib, is apropos for the summer 2011 issue of AMD’s Corporate Responsibility Update. In this issue, we dive into the impacts of the technology that we make at AMD.  For more than 40 years, AMD has produced some of the world’s most advanced semiconductor products that are the brains behind the gadgets that power our technological lives.  This work is so technically complex and the semiconductor business is so competitive, that we rarely have time to step back to look at the impacts of these products on people’s lives.

Now, I know some of you are thinking: Has technology really made my life better? Is 24/7 accessibility and being tethered to my smartphone really a benefit?

You have a point!  Digital technology is like anything that changes our lives; it can be a mixed bag. But when you stop to think about the things we all take for granted now that were not possible just a few years ago, the digital revolution is amazing.

I like to think about the fun stuff, like digital music, games and movies.  In fact more than 50 million Wii gaming consoles shipped to date run on AMD technology and AMD has powered the special effects in movies that have collectively netted more than $5.4 billion in box office revenues.

But there is also a serious side.  As you can read in the summer update, AMD technology is helping to advance medical science, education and environmental protection.  These advancements have the potential to save lives and improve the livability of our planet for future generations.

But what gives me goose bumps and brings me close to tears are the individual stories.  I get a warm feeling when I hear about a young student who has decided to be an astronaut or an engineer after working with our technology. Take a look at this video to hear these stories first hand from the kids who are engaged in our signature education program: AMD Changing the Game.

How has AMD technology enhanced your life?  Share your stories with us here and we will feature some of them in a future AMD publication.

Tim Mohin is the Director of Corporate Responsibility at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such links sites and no endorsement is implied.