Contributions from the Latin American community are usually thought of from a cultural standpoint, such as their influence in food, music and dance. However, the Latino community has a long history of innovation that reaches beyond that. Most of these are things that have become integral to our lives and we couldn’t live without. Some examples include:
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Instagram would likely not be in existence today without Brazilan-born co-founder Mike Krieger. When moving to California to attend Stanford University, he met Kevin Systom, who he would eventually build the company with.
- Beautyblender
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It would be hard to imagine the world of makeup today without this iconic makeup tool! The Beautyblender was first released into the market in 2003 by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva. Silvia grew up in Los Angeles with her mother’s Mexican side of the family. She would come up with her business idea while working on the set of Girlfriends (starring queen Tracee Elis Ross!). She would use a special effects sponge that she would cut into a tear shape to replicate an airbrushed look with foundation. She knew her product would be profitable after finding that her sponges were routinely “missing.”
- Ballpoint Pen
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As someone obsessed with stationery, I always have the perfect tool for writing out my notes, doodles and thoughts of the day. This wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the work of Argentinian journalist Lászlo Jósef Biró. By using oil-based ink and a tungsten ball to help ink run smoothly on paper, Biró set the groundwork to create the modern ballpoint pen.
- Color TV
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Mexican Electrical Engineer Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena is credited with creating the color-wheel type of television. It was the first color television patented in the United States and Mexico.
- Heart Transplant
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In 1969, Argentinian doctor Domingo Liotta made a medical breakthrough by creating the first artificial heart to be successfully implanted into a human being. The patient who received it lived on it for three days until a human heart was available for transplant.