Technology or basic needs?

Many people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. On one hand, we'd improve our level of technology, we'd advance technologically and the government could create new jobs in the computer industry, as in the computer production as the number of computer professionals. It would be great, if we weren't in time of crisis.
One the other hand, there are more important things than the technology, as well as try to go out of the crisis.

Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. I think that they are right, because in my opinion is more important to go out of the crisis, try to avoid the poverty (that is impossible), help other counties that need help, like Japan, that has suffer an important natural disaster: an earthquake and a tsunami attack, and create new jobs to needy people. Other thing that the governments could do is to improve the conditions of public schools, the teaching materials, like new computers or things like that.

As I said before, I agree with people who say that is more important to spent the money in basic needs and try to help to needy people, countries and a better education.