Last week, at the World Economic Forum in Africa, AMD and Architecture for
Humanity announced they are accepting nominations for a community partner
for the forthcoming AMD Open Architecture Challenge.

Through this partnership opportunity local NGOs, community groups and small
business enterprises now have the opportunity to nominate themselves to
become the implementing partner for a new sustainable digital inclusion
center that will provide greater educational, social and economic
opportunities via the Internet. The Request for Proposals is available
online on the Open Architecture Network (OAN) at
http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/challenge and the deadline for submissions
is July 20, 2007.

The Open Architecture Challenge was announced at the annual TED Conference
in March of this year and will launch on September 5, 2007 through the Open
Architecture Network. AMD is sponsoring this year’s challenge through
50x15, a global initiative founded by AMD to enable affordable Internet
access and computing capability for 50 percent of the world’s population
by the year 2015. The sustainable digital inclusion center to be built will
fall under the 50x15 Initiative as a learning lab; 50x15 Learning Labs are
technology-based projects used to gain knowledge on how best to foster
digital inclusion in a specific region.

“The Open Architecture Challenge is a great extension of the 50x15
Initiative, where learning labs are more than technology deployments. They
truly bring communities together,” said Dan Shine, director of the 50x15
Initiative, AMD. “From nomination to design to construction, the great
thing about this contest is that we are engaging with communities from the
start. This challenge will not only open the doors for one community, but
through replication of the lessons learned, we are taking significant steps
toward our greater goal of bridging the digital divide.”

Following the close of the RFP submission, AMD and AFH will choose a
location that presently lacks connectivity as the site of the challenge.
The second step in the process will be for the two organizations along with
the chosen community partner to define the parameters around which
international design teams will compete to develop a sustainable learning
lab.

“Creating real social and economic change does not happen by the
generation of ideas alone, but by building sustainable and replicable
solutions, we can truly make a difference,” said Cameron Sinclair,
executive director and co-founder, Architecture for Humanity. “AMD’s
experience with 50x15 Learning Labs adds tremendous value to this program.
Together we’ve been able to combine the core competencies of our
organizations to improve conditions for people around the world.”

As soon as an implementation partner is chosen and contest parameters are
defined, additional information relating to the proposed site and other
pertinent criteria will also be available on the OAN. The design
competition will launch on September 5, 2007 and will be open for
approximately four months; at the end of which, AMD will fund the
implementation of the winning design.

About 50x15

The 50x15 Initiative, launched by AMD in 2004 at the World Economic Forum,
is a bold and far-reaching effort to develop new technology and solutions
that will help enable affordable Internet access and computing capability
for 50 percent of the world’s population by the year 2015. More than just
goodwill, 50x15 is about fostering long-term economic progress and
investment within high-growth markets in ways that benefit a wide range of
people and businesses. For more information, visit http://www.50x15.com.

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of
innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer
electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice
and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that
empower consumers and businesses worldwide. For more information, visit
http://www.amd.com.

About Architecture for Humanity

Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks
architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and provides design services
to communities in need. Currently it involved in the reconstruction of
homes on the Gulf Coast, rebuilding after the South Asia Tsunami and the
construction of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. For more
information, please visit http://www.architectureforhumanity.org

About the Open Architecture Network

The Open Architecture Network is an online, open source community dedicated
to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design.
For more information please visit: http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org.

Share/Save:    Bookmark on Bustler &               

Bookmarked by: Nobody has bookmarked this entry yet!