Obama hails technology creators as role models

President Obama's student pep talk held up technology pioneers as role models

In a webcast to children around the US, President Obama has cited the current wave of technology firms as role models for the future.

In an address watched by millions of children, Obama urged the young to strive harder to reach the goals of life. He said that with study and application they could grow up to develop the next iPhone or invent the next technology wave.

"Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago overcame a depression and won a world war, fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon," he said.

"Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other."

Obama used many of these technologies in his campaign for election. Twitter was very important in mobilising campaign workers, and several in Silicon Valley took time off to build better electioneering tools.

For example, campaign staff with iPhones had an application that was updated in real time to tell them which houses in districts had been canvassed so that they could maximise their efforts.