Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Founded in 1924, the Technion is one of Israel’s, and the world’s, top colleges that focus on technology. The blogger delegation spent the morning getting acquainted with some very cool technology that is being developed at the college.

Virtual Reality Therapy

Our first demonstration showcased some of the virtual reality research taking place at the institute. The professor and student giving the demonstration gave us an example of their work with the Bubbles Game. They had been working with a child who was injured in a suicide terrorist bombing.

The child was too young to be able to tell them what he was feeling regarding pain. The Technion team developed this game in a virtual reality environment that required the boy to reach out and pop virtual bubbles floating in the air. Based on the sensors placed on specific areas of the boy’s body, as well as sensors on the floor, the team was able to determine where the boy’s weight was shifting and what muscles were being used based on how he stretched to pop the bubbles. The game can then be adjusted to have the bubbles move in the direction that strengthened the muscles that needed strengthening. Think of it as a virtual reality therapy session. It was quite amazing.

Water Filtration

If anyone knows anything about the Middle East, they know that it’s hot, and there isn’t that much water to go around. I don’t know much about water filtration or desalinization, but from what I gathered from the demonstrations I was given, the Technion is one of the world leaders in this science. Man, that stuff was complicated.

Helping People Walk

The last demonstration we received was more of a Powerpoint presentation (not as exciting but still very interesting). A professor discussed how they’re helping patients with diseases that affect mobility walk more gracefully.

Do you remember that scene in “Awakenings” where one of the patients was able to walk on the floor when it was tiled, but not when it was all the same color? Apparently this phenomena is real and doctors aren’t 100% sure why it works. Some theories revolve around the idea that the patient can see the next square as a goal and helps the patient move, in a straight line, to the next square thereby improving their gait and helping them walk.

This professor, along with his team, developed a small device that patients can wear on their head that replicate the tiled floor wherever they walk. The results were astounding (he showed us videos). The patients’ walks were significantly improved instantly. Pretty cool stuff.

Here are the rest of the pictures from Day 3.

Nanotechnology

We met with Professor Ernesto Joselevich who walked us through the basics and complexities of nanotechnology. I tried my best to understand what he was talking about. It was way beyond anything that I could comprehend with my limited understand of nanotechnology. What I did understand is this:

• Nanotechnology is providing incredible breakthroughs which will have significant impact on the way we live our lives in the future.
• Through this research, a lubricant has been discovered that, in the future, will be coated in engines before you buy a car and will allow the car to run without an oil change for the life of the car.
• The Weizmann Institute is one of the leaders in this research.

The Rest

The professor tried his best to explain the complexities in lamens terms by using pasta analogies (this is more like sliced lasagna and this is more like rotini). It was fascinating and hunger-inducing.

To be honest, the rest of the presentations were also over my head. We heard from Professor David Cahen on the campus-wide alternative sustainable energy research initiative, Dr. Ron Milo on the optimal analysis of photosynthesis and carbon fixation, and from Maya Kahen who gave us a tour of a molecular computing lab.

I wish I could tell you more but the day, even with my notes, became a blur of complicated sciences and advanced technology well above my web-based mind and experience.

Hiriya Mountain

The Hiriya Recycling Center used to a growing garbage dump. Now it stands as the center of Israel’s recycling efforts and the future site of Ariel Sharon park. Hiriya is the largest waste station in the Middle East and normally wouldn’t be a place you would bring a tour. I believe, however, the consulate wanted to showcase Israel’s dedication towards improving the environment.

The plan is to turn the former dump into a national park. It’s nice to see a country take pride in their recycling efforts so much so that they take their tourists to a large pile of garbage.

On to day 3…

Due to my recent computer problems I haven’t been able to relay the information about the recent bloggers delegation to Israel that I was a part of. Well, it’s time I start letting you all know how it went. The pictures for Day 1 can be found here.

So much of my travels has focused on fantasy. I have traveled to Disney World and Universal Studios where I fought with Peter Pan and rode a bike with E.T. I have traveled to Vegas where I slept in an Egyptian pyramid (made of glass, of course). I have been to many museums that try to recreate history with elaborate exhibits. Traveling to Jerusalem is the opposite experience than my previous travels. In Jerusalem, the past isn’t recreated in the modern. The modern is fit into the past. ATMs are chiseled into thousand year-old walls. Modern commerce with credit cards and cellphones are placed in markets that have not changed in hundreds of years. The city is as modern as any other but its facade is what you expect from a city that has been conquered by every major religion many times over during the last couple millennium.

The Old City

We started the day at Mount Scopus overlooking the old city of Jerusalem. The sight is beautiful but also somewhat strange. I think about the history of this area and how much war has taken place to claim the small piece of land that stands before me.

The streets of the old city are lined with cafes and shops. It’s what you would expect from such a heavily trafficked tourist area. The majority of people walking around are tourists and at times you forget that you’re on such a valuable piece of real estate. The Jewish quarter, the quarter we spent most of our time in, was bustling. At times it felt like Times Square. Lots of noise. Lots of movement. Annoying tourists taking pictures of everything. Very few bathrooms. It felt like home.

What I find most interesting in Jerusalem was the quieter areas of the old city. The narrow corridors built long before roads were made for cars. Everything is still intact from thousands of years ago. You can tell that this city was built out of necessity and continued to grow as needed. The architecture is very unique as well. Everything is made out of Jerusalem stone which aids the feeling of deja vu when navigating through numerous narrow streets.

We walked through the narrow Arab shuk (marketplace) where you can buy every type of backgammon and chess set known to man. As a child of the internet, I hate haggling in person. Tell me the price and I’ll tell you if I want it. This marketplace works like the days of old where every person gets a different price and the cost of the product will be based on your ability to fight and persuade. In other words, it’s a tourist trap. Then again, the whole city feels like a tourist trap.

The Kotel (Wailing Wall) stands as the centerpiece of the Jewish quarter. The wide open space and intensity of those praying at the wall provides the opportunity for all that visit to reflect upon their own lives. It’s a place of modesty and a place of respect. Regardless of your beliefs or where you come from, the feeling at the Kotel is something worth experiencing.

We only  spent a couple hours in the old city and I’m sure we only experienced a small part of its uniqueness.

Machane Yehuda

Machane Yehuda is a vibrant marketplace filled with every food you can think of ready for the buying. The vendors are friendly and it felt more like where the locals shop than other marketplaces that I had visited in Israel. The fruits looked fresh. The baked goods smelled great. And if I hadn’t just eaten lunch I would have spent lots of money there.

The day was quite enjoyable and felt like a good solid day of touring. Had a quick drink at the end of the day with Loren and Michelle Feldman. Day 2 got a lot more exciting so stay tuned for future posts.

What I can tell you is that I’m having a great time with our crew. To get a good idea of what we’ve been up to, check out Loren Feldman’s hilarious video about our first day. Also check out the Cartoon Barry blog for constant updates. I will try to provide some quick posts from time to time but the in-depth posts will have to wait. On to day 2!

Tomorrow I will tour Jerusalem with Tamar, Brian, Loren, Michelle, Barry, and Jeanine. I’m hoping to gain a new insight into areas I’ve visited many times. I’ll let you know how it goes.