Tucson’s Israel 65 Festival next month will celebrate “Israel’s Incredible Innovations,” such as:
Computers
• MinDesktop, a thought-controlled, hands-free computer for the disabled that could be used without a keyboard or mouse. Developed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev students under the supervision of professor Rami Puzis, it features a helmet equipped with 14 EEG connect points that sense brain activity. It was to be presented to President Obama during his visit to Israel this week.
Agriculture
• A popular variety of cherry tomato, the Tomaccio, developed by a group led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Nachum Kedar and Haim Rabinovich
Medicine
• A prototype of a DNA nano-computer that detects cancer and releases drugs to treat the disease, developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science
Environment
• The world’s first cardboard bicycle, developed by cycling enthusiast Izhar Gafni. The bikes are resistant to rain and sun and cost around $20.
To learn more, visit the Israel 65 Festival on Sunday, April 21, noon-6 p.m. on the Tucson Jewish Community Center campus.
