Israel Active

The Israel Technion is running the TechnoBrain contest to build the largest yoyo in the world. It involves a 30 meter crane, a 20 meter rope and some of Israel’s most inventive engineering students. Update! The winner was Eyal Moshe Cohen – a mechanical engineering student and (wait for it) an ex Paratrooper.

(Thanks to noCamels) “Keepod” is the Hebrew word for “hedgehog”. The spiny animal was the inspiration to the Israeli designers of the Keepod USB device. Insert it into any computer (PC, Mac etc) and your information, applications and operating system are available and secure.

This video describes the aims of the iPodia alliance and its global project “Classrooms without borders” in which Israel’s Technion Institute is a key contributor.

(Thanks to Israel21c) In my 9th June newsletter I reported that Israeli start-up OrCam’s camera-based system will “read” to the visually impaired whilst on the move. Well the revolutionary spectacles are now being shipped at a cost of $2,500 a pair. Thanks to Myer for the alert.

According to those in the know, the members of the IDF’s secret 8200 unit that set-up Any.Do were the inspiration for Apple’s latest iOS7 operating system.

Israel’s Afimilk has developed the AfiAct II heat detection system that identifies the optimum time for insemination of cattle. Already AfiAct is saving US customers hundreds of dollars per cow.

Israel's Magic Software has released its latest enterprise mobility solution for businesses whose employees need to access data using a variety of devices.

Israeli start-up Aquarius Spectrum has been chosen by Jerusalem’s area water corporation to install its smart systems for detecting leaks in the municipal water supply system. Aquarius Spectrum has developed innovative acoustic sensors, software algorithms and testing prototypes.

Hundreds of start-ups, investors and multinationals attended the 3rd Digital Life Design Festival in Tel Aviv. The event included the Global Cities Summit, a policy forum that addresses issues like urban living, ways of coping with growth and better methods of transportation.

Israeli academics and companies have been given security clearance to work on the Galileo project that will launch 30 satellites and become Europe’s alternative to the US GPS system.