‘Start-Up Nation’ Israel’s Latest Invention: Camera Helping the Blind Recognize Objects
(JNS.org)— Haaretz and Reuters report that a new invention from Israel with potential to change the lives of the blind and visually impaired, will go on sale in the U.S. in September. The device, called OrCam, works via a 5-megapixel camera that attaches to glasses and can recognize text. The camera uses audio feedback to relay visual information, and has a memory library in which it can store previously recognized objects. While the device still has difficulty handling light and non-flat surfaces, it will sell for $2,500. With the help of the user, the camera can be taught to recognize objects and faces, said Amnon Shashua, a computer sciences professor and co-founder of OrCam Technologies. He is also the co-founder of the more well-known Israeli start-up MobileEye.
Inside the Secret Tech Ventures Reshaping the Israeli-Arab-Palestinian World
New York—Forbes reports that Israeli high-tech experts and Palestinian entrepreneurs have gotten together nearly 100 times over the past two years in the hope of making Israel’s “Startup Nation” economic miracle a cross-border affair. And this is just one of dozens of business-driven dialogues quietly—in many cases secretly—proliferating across Israel and the territories. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians are becoming actual business partners and colleagues in startups that are slowly transforming the Palestinian economy, at least in the West Bank. The Palestinians, flooded for years with foreign aid money that often gets misused and almost never sticks, accept partnerships with Israeli firms and Israeli offices of U.S. firms because it offers them perhaps the best chance to develop their economy. They are simply being sensible— taking advantage of being next door to one of the world’s top high-tech countries.
Like fathers, like sons: Lau and Yosef elected chief rabbis of Israel
(JNS.org)—Rabbi David Lau, the chief rabbi of Modiin, was named Israel’s chief Ashkenazi rabbi on Wednesday evening, alongside Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who was named the chief Sephardi rabbi. Both of Israel’s new chief rabbis are the sons for former chief rabbis: Lau’s father, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, served as the chief Ashkenazi rabbi between 1993 and 2003, and Yosef’s father, Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, served as the chief Sephardi rabbi between 1973 and 1983. The 150 electors responsible for choosing Israel’s chief rabbis gave Lau, 47, and Yosef, 61, the same number of votes—68. The new chief rabbis were elected for a 10-year term. Lau’s main rival in the race, the national-religious camp’s candidate Rabbi David Stav, received 54 votes; while Yosef’s strongest rival, Safed’s Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, received 49.
