Israel Active

AORA Solar, an Israeli developer of applied ultra-high temperature concentrated solar power (CSP), will open its second-ever gas-turbine solar thermal power station in Almeria, Spain, on February 7. At night, the hybrid station runs on biofuel, natural gas or diesel. It will also power a desalination facility. See this CBN news report about AORA Solar’s first hybrid solar power station in Israel’s Arava desert.

(Thanks to NoCamels) Israeli start-up Intutula has developed intuNet, a specialized web browser for people who might be nervous of the information highway. When the mouse is hovered over different part of the menu, intuNET reads information out loud so that users get both audio and visual feedback.

(Thanks to NoCamels) Two Israeli-Arab scientists Dr. Sobhi Basheer and Dr. Ahmed Tafesh from TransBiodiesel have developed a biological enzyme that allows the transformation of any kind of oil into the much less pollutant bio-diesel suitable for diesel engines.

(Thanks to NoCamels) Israeli company WeFi has developed a system that allows mobile phone users to surf the Internet for free. WeFi’s unique technology automatically moves a user’s data connection from the 3G network to a local Wifi hotspot whenever it finds one.

Israel’s Screenovate has launched its Smartphone Wireless Display Plus system on the Texas Instrument (TI) platform. TI is showcasing the phone at CES 2012 in Las Vegas.

The facebook group “Like for Israel” ran an event to develop innovative pro-Israel applications (mobile, Facebook, web.) Six useful apps were built in less than 48 hours. https://www.facebook.com/likeforisrael

According to their CEO, the multimedia development centre “is further evidence of the company's confidence in Israel's human capital and its capabilities.”

Using the latest technology, Jacob Lehman has developed an iPAD application to deliver informative and entertaining Jewish content to a generation of Jews who remain alienated from their Jewish identity. Jacob is a Threshold Fellowship winner.

Canada’s top magazine has published a great article about the innovations emanating from Israel’s hi-tech centre.

Here is a list (not mine) of the best Israeli products to hit the market in 2011. It includes the “ash-poopie” – one of my favourites.