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.