New technologies from the Middle East: daily updates on a website run by a telecommunications engineering graduate

The dynamic Middle East, often known for its conflicts, is also a source of new technologies and inventions that improve people’s quality of life. Latamisrael.com, run by 39-year-old telecommunications engineering graduate Daniel Dobroszklanka, provides information in Spanish about the nearly daily technological innovations taking place in Israel and aims to serve as a bridge between entrepreneurs in that country and their Latin American and Spanish counterparts. When reflecting on his time at the School of Engineering, the graduate notes that “on a personal level, it was my first real encounter with technology from the inside, and professionally, it opened the doors to everything I’ve done so far—something I couldn’t have imagined at the time.”

- When did you start studying at Universidad ORT Uruguay?

- I started studying at ORT University when they launched the Telecommunications Engineering program, partly because it seemed like the most well-organized option I could find. By that, I mean the class sizes and the schedule, which allowed me to work while I was studying.

- Why did you decide to study telecommunications engineering?

- From a very young age, I traded my rattle for a screwdriver, and people tell me that from then on, I started taking apart every electromechanical device I could get my hands on. I had a compelling need to see “how they worked” and what was inside them. Moving into the field of technology happened quite naturally. When the time came, a degree in Telecommunications Engineering seemed like an excellent platform to nurture those interests and take them to a professional level.

- What did your degree program give you, both personally and professionally?

- On a personal level, it was my first real encounter with technology from the inside, and professionally, it opened the door to everything I’ve done so far—something I couldn’t have imagined at the time.

- What did you enjoy most about the race?

- I really loved some of the hands-on projects where we designed some really cool “gadgets,” like a “home automation device” that connected to the appliances in the house and let you control them from your phone. For example, if you were in Montevideo and decided to go home to Las Toscas, you could turn on the fridge, the water heater, and other appliances before leaving.

- And what was the hardest part?

- Fortunately, the program was very well structured, and before long, the courses began to apply our foundational knowledge to some very interesting topics. For those of us who prefer technology to the pure sciences, the first few courses were a bit challenging, especially because there was so much math and physics that made it hard to see clearly what we wanted to do in terms of technological development.

- What was your final thesis project about?

- The project was a performance study of the 802.11 protocol, better known as Wi-Fi (wireless internet). At the time, little research had been done on the subject, which gave me the opportunity to conduct a theoretical and practical study, including simulations in real-world scenarios. Based on the results, we made several recommendations.

- Why did you decide to launch the website latamisrael.com?

- Latamisrael.com is a source of technology news from Israel covering areas such as innovation, startups, biotechnology, and high-tech, clean tech, nanotechnology, among others.

The idea stems from two sources: first, observing the sheer number of developments—most of them truly amazing—that take place daily in Israel in the fields of technology, medicine, and science; and second, the lack of a Spanish-language website dedicated to this content—until latamisrael.com came along. All of this, combined with my passion for technology, gave rise to this project.

Today, after three months, the numbers are very encouraging. With over 10,000 visits from all over South America and Spain, and a Google PageRank of 5, I think launching this project was the right decision.

We also have a free Android app, as well as groups on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

- What is this site about?

- LatamIsrael is the first and only source for technology news from Israel, published entirely in Spanish, covering all areas of technology. By maintaining constant and close contact with many of the founders and executives of Israel’s most innovative tech companies and startups, we are able to bring the latest and most cutting-edge tech news to our readers. In this way, we are building a technological bridge between Israel and Latin America, which, as a side effect, helps facilitate a better flow of business related to new technologies.

- How long have you been living in Israel? Are you working on any telecommunications-related projects?

- I have been living in Israel for eight years and have had the privilege of working at leading telecommunications companies such as Alvarion and Gilat Satellite Networks. At Alvarion, I had the opportunity to be part of the global launch of the technology WiMAX (with all that that entails). For example, leading the world’s first WiMAX installation or teaching courses at Nokia’s headquarters or at Intel to introduce this technology are things you couldn’t have imagined back when you were a student.

- In 2010, you won a portion of the "Philadelphia Awards," sponsored by Google. What did your proposal entail?

- The proposal focused on distance learning and how to improve existing options. For a variety of reasons, these technologies have not had the significant impact that was expected. While technological factors play a role, they are not the only ones; there are also psychological factors, cultural norms, and unmet needs to consider. The potential of distance learning would be immense if it were widely accepted and properly utilized.

- How did you feel when your project was recognized?

- The award was presented by the Philadelphia Technology Community (composed of leading figures in the technology sector in Philadelphia), and it was truly an honor, as there were many entries from across the United States. That same year, I also participated in and won an award at the European Satellite Navigation Competition; both experiences were very enriching. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage students to participate in these types of competitions, as I believe they can provide a valuable experience and also play a significant role in motivating future engineers professionally.

Interview published in April 2012