The following article is an edited transcript based on the plenary address given by Craig R. Barrett, chair of the board of Intel Corp., on April 19, 2006, at the 2006 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting in San Francisco. Since before the industrial revolution, technology has changed lives, opportunities, and economies. Similarly, the digital evolution has touched nearly every aspect of modern life and is reshaping economies around the world. As more and more of the world's people engage in the digital economy, both competition and opportunities will grow. Competitiveness in the global economy will be determined by how people and nations position themselves in the digital evolution. What lies ahead for us in the next 10 years? What new technologies will alter the technology landscape? What are the opportunities going forward, and how do we prepare? How can materials research and development help us to move forward faster?