People Of The Notebook
Israel is one of the world leaders in educational software.
A
is service in the IDF.
"Anyone in the Air Force
spends a lot of time in simula-
tors," says Mr. Bowman, "and
that happens to tie in nicely with
the educational trend of getting
away from tutorials, where com-
puters ask questions. Instead,
kids ask the computer ques-
tions."
Mr. Bowman became aware of
Israelis in the educational soft-
ware field when he founded his
first educational software com-
pany in the mid-1980s.
"At the time," he says, "I was
amazed at how many Israeli
companies kept popping up."
When he was approached by
Yoel Givol, CEO of the Galilee-
based Logal, he says, "I was
blown away by the quality and
depth of simulation. It was an
interesting wake-up call which
planted a seed in my mind."
The seed
grew. Today,
funded by
Gemini, PEC,
Apple and oth-
software line serving pupils from
kindergarten-age to adult, corn-
bining interactive multimedia
technology with prevailing ped-
agogical methods in subjects
ranging from science and tech-
nology to language learning.
EduSoft's series for pre-school-
ers (or special education needs)
teaches computer activities on a
special keyboard with six large
keys.
Children are first taught a
specific concept by manipulating
3-D shapes, which is then rein-
forced in the abstract.
Again, CEO Mr. Hasfari cred-
its the educational system as
"our laboratory. All our peda-
gogical input, all development
and testing is done in Israel."
One major stumbling block in
educational software is that ed-
ucation is culturally sensitive.
"It's very difficult to transfer
(lessons) from culture to culture,"
says Logal's Mr. Bowman, "but
folks in Israel have done a good
job of fitting in."
Development of a product with
book.
Without fanfare, a handful of
Israeli companies are making a
name for themselves in the edu-
cational software field.
Menahem Hasfari, CEO of
EduSoft, Israel's largest educa-
tional software house, feels that
the country's educational system
provides a good deal of support.
He gives special weight to the
fact that "this was the first counL
try to implement a national-scale
project to introduce computers
in the schools."
Israel also has the highest per-
centage of computers in the
home, he says, 45 percent at last
count.
"'The Education Ministry has
allocated $100 million to equip
all schools with
computers and
educational
software, with a
goal of one corn-
puter per 10
students," Mr.
Hasfari said.
— Bill Bowman
"Compared to
the stated U.S.
goal of one to 20, this is the high-
est rate in the world."
Veteran American education-
al software expert Bill Bowman
says with peace will come more
world interest in tapping the well
of talent in Israel.
"Excluding the United States,
Israel is No. 1," he says. "For a
country of 5 million, it's an amaz-
ing achievement.
"Somehow in Israel, you have
people who are experts in both
technology and content and can
take that content and express it
in a software environment."
This ability, says Mr. Bow-
man, is the basic difference be-
tween Israeli software
manufacturers and their U.S.
counterparts.
Because there was no huge in-
frastructure of software devel- ers, Logal's U.S. operation is universal appeal is made easier,
opment as in the U.S., Mr. headed by Mr. Bowman.
comments Mr. Hasfari, "when
Bowman says, "Israel had to do
Logal recently closed two ma- you have teachers who come
it itself."
jor U.S. deals, a $130,000 sale to from all over the world."
For example, he says, Logal schools in Maryland and a
Additional Israeli advantages,
founder Dov Levin "wanted to in- $45,000 sale to the Providence he says, are "more mileage from
terest his kids in physics, so he (R.I.) school district.
every dollar spent on R&D; the
wrote his own software."
EduSoft, a Degem subsidiary, high-tech environment; and the
Another reason for the overall showed $1.5 million in net prof- fact that Israeli companies are
high level of technical knowledge its on $9 million in sales for 1993. ready to go to the ends of the
on the part of software creators The company offers an extensive earth."
"Excluding the
United States,
Israel is No. 1."
■
ISRAEL 1-34G-Esa-
Specially compiled by The Jerusalem Post
—$1 EQUALS 3.0160 NIS (shekels) - Close Price 10-4-94
El Al Can't Meet Timetable
RACHEL NEIMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
ll indications are that the
21st century will see the
People of the Book become
the People of the Note-
■
. 1",1111 1110,4.1101.01,111•1 41...-own,
El Al Israel Airlines will come possible to meet this timetable,
out of receivership in February Mr. Kessar said, because two
and 51 percent will be sold on of the most important issues re-
the stock exchange in April, la.ting to the company's priva-
Transport Minister Yisrael tization-- responsibility for El
Kessar told the Knesset Eco- Al's security costs and the cre-
nomics Committee.
ation of a golden share for the
The receivership was sup- government -- have not yet
posed to end today. It was im- been resolved.
Not Much Israel-Jordan Trade
The volume of trade between
Israel and Jordan will not be
great in the next five to 10
years even under free trade
conditions, according to a Bank
of Israel study.
An analysis of the trade com-
ponents reveals that Jordanian
fruit, vegetable and textile ex-
ports show the greatest poten-
tial.
However, the study also
notes that these Jordanian ex-
ports will have to compete
against imports of the same
goods from Gaza and the West
Bank.
The study estimates that Is-
raeli exports to Jordan will to-
tal about $150 million annually
in the short- and medium-term.
It identifies the export of sci-
entific and quality control
equipment as the areas of
greatest potential.
Del Monte On The Shelves
Israeli juice manufacturer Pri Del Monte products in Israel,
Ha'emek is getting set to reap Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syr-
the fruits of peace as sole fran ia, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus.
chise holder for the Middle East
The two companies have of-
of the multi-national food giant ficially launched the Israeli
Del Monte.
sales campaign for made-in-Is-
Pri Ha'emek has a three- ra el and imported Del Monte
year contract, with an option to brand juices in cartons and
renew, to produce and market vegetables and fruits in cans.
Motorola Sells For $8.5 Million
Motorola has sold its holdings
in CMS Computer Systems, the
Israel representative of Hewlett
Packard, for some $8.5 million.
Fifty percent was sold to the Is-
rael Corporation, while the oth-
er half will be held by a private
investor.
An Opportunity For Some Fund
Connecticut-based Tremont Israeli companies, including
Partners has introduced the Is- those listed on the Tel Aviv
rael Opportunities Fund, a non- Stock Exchange, and the secu-
diversified, open-end mutual rities of Israeli issuers listed in
fund that will seek long-term the United States.
capital appreciation by invest-
The rest of its assets will be
ing primarily in equity securi- invested in U.S. dollar-denom-
ties of Israeli companies.
inated, high-quality short-term
The fund intends to invest at liquid securities. Minimum ini-
least 65 percent of its assets in tial investment is $1,000.
China, Telecom Make A Deal
The China National Postal and
Telecommunications Appli-
ances Corporation (PTAC) has
placed a second order with ECI
Telecom of Israel for synchro-
nous digital hierarchy (SDH)
network equipment. It will be
used in the second phase of an
850-kilometer fibemptic project
between Wuhan and Nanjing.