IEE Control & Automation Division: Chairman´s address. Out of the wilderness: the contribution of technology to a developing country

Our modern society depends for its existence on the unrestricted availability of highly developed and sophisticated technology; but to enable such a society to develop, certain basic requirements must be fulfilled. The most important of these is an adequate and reliable supply of water, not only to sustain life but also to satisfy the needs of industry and commerce. Secondly, a common language is necessary for ideas to be exchanged and agreements reached. Finally a comprehensive educational system must be provided, oriented to the specific needs of the people and its country. The modern State of Israel illustrates how these basic requirements have been met through the application of technology to transform a poor, backward country into a flourishing industrial society. The Hebrew language was revived, and a technological university¿Technion¿was founded. In the 50 years since the first classes started, its facilities have been applied to all aspects of the growing economy¿especially in the areas of water and irrigation systems¿allowing progress to be made that could not otherwise have been achieved.