We live in a modern world that is spewing out new and innovative inventions at lightening speed. There are phones that respond to voice commands, cars that don’t need gasoline to run anymore, and paraplegic patients that now have a robotic device that can help them feel what it’s like to walk again. Pretty amazing, right? What’s even more amazing is the global partnerships that help make the success of these inventions possible.
One specific partnership should come to mind when you think of inventions of the 21st century; the U.S.-Israel relationship. Although it may not seem so apparent, Israel’s contributions to our technologically advanced world is one of the many reasons why the U.S. makes it a point to sustain a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Israel.
Israel is a driving force behind these new developments. You may already be aware of some inventions that Israel has created or helped create with leading scientists and engineers. Some older Israeli developments include AIM (perhaps that’s a bit out of date), and the Intel processor chip that allows you to use your computers. But Israel has gone farther and has contributed far more to the world than just AIM and Intel processors.
Do you ever wonder how your slick iPhone 5 allows you to update your many statuses, upload pictures and iMessage as fast as it does? Israeli developers made this possible by creating the Israeli flash memory developer Anobit, designed to improve the performance and quality of Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air. Or how about your Kindle? Did you ever think you’d be able to read from digital books? Israeli innovators working for Oracle, a hardware and software engineering firm, developed the Java platform inside Amazon’s Kindle to make your read easier.
A recent innovation introduced this year is Waze, a smartphone GPS application that does far more than get you to your destination. This Israeli GPS can indicate where traffic is backed up. This application also allows you to communicate with other drivers about traffic updates from where you are in relation to them.
When you think of dentistry, I bet you think of the fastest way of getting out of your teeth-cleaning appointment. Well, Israeli innovators were thinking of ways to make you sit comfortably in your seat when they helped develop a laser that can replace dental drills and the unpleasant pain that accompanies them.
I’m sure most of you remember the unfortunate incident in a Tuscon, Ariz. supermarket where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in an assassination attempt. But I’m also sure most of you don’t know that the bandage that was used to save Giffords’ life was an emergency bandage designed by Israeli military medic, Bernard Bar-Natan. If Israeli developments can help you check Twitter and save lives, it’s no wonder the U.S. works so closely with Israel.
Among many other inventions Israel has produced or helped enhance, these are some of the most relevant ones of our day. But the technological contributions Israel has made is just one of the many aspects that make up its strong relationship with the U.S. Their alliance provides both countries with a sense of loyalty, protection, and commitment that is becoming more and more uncommon in the world we live in today.
Jordan Miller is a sophomore in the School of International Service.
