Mexican Disruptions

(Reading time: Approx. 5 minutes)

Hola otra vez!

Great that you are here, I hope that you are doing good during the lockdown a.k.a Coronavirus.  Hope that you are keeping yourself busy, spending time with the people that matter and that you are learning something new; like for example reading this blog. I mean the facts that you get from here won’t land you a job, but they will totally make you a more interesting person at a social event, and that my dear reader, that could land you a good job.

(Check out my other posts for more facts, Mi casa es tu casa. Bienvenido a Mexico! &  Y tú hablas mexicano?)

Anyway, something that makes me very proud to talk (and write) about is “the Mexican inventions almost no one knew about”. From all the Mexican inventions that are out there the one that tops them all, transitioned from being a luxury technology that only a few could afford, to a technology that is now an essential part of around 80% of the global households: 

 “I dream in black and white”, that’s what Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena used to say, his son narrated. The world’s creator of the color TV, Mr. Gonzalez Camarena is one of the most brilliant minds that Mexico has exported to the world. From building his own electric toys as a child, nearly 100 years ago! To building a television camera with useless radio parts as a Teenager! To transmitting the first TV images in color in 1938 with only 21 years old.

In 1940 and with 23 years of age, Mr. Gonzalez Camarena patented his invention. He refused to sell it to foreign Television companies, his wish was to keep this technology in Mexico to the benefit of the Mexicans, to alphabetize them. In fact, in cooperation with the Mexican government the first type of distance learning was created: the “Telesecundaria”, which allowed secondary and high school students from rural areas to watch the classes on the TV via satellite. Respect!

Even though Mr. Gonzalez Camarena patented his invention in 1940, it wasn’t until late 1950’s and 1960’s that color TV entered the market. The reasons behind were the high costs. First, to adapt film and media productions to color format and second, color TV sets were much more expensive to afford than the black & white ones. Today, we all thank Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena a proud and devote Mexican for giving life to the TV and well for transforming the way we consume media.

Have you ever wonder who invented the technology behind your toilet?

I believe you haven’t :=) but it was Jose Antonio de Alzate y Ramirez waaay before you could guess, in 1790. Back in his days, he developed the automatic float or closing mechanism to stop the water flow avoiding the water container to spill. This technology has been adapted to modern toilets and water tanks. The technology of Mr. de Alzate has helped the world save millions of liters of water. Gracias!

The next invention was developed in 1951 by the Mexican chemical engineer Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas.

With only 26 years of age he discovered the active ingredient of the contraceptive pill. Bringing up this invention is kind of funny, given the fact that Mexico ranked last year number one in teen pregnancy (OCDE). But despite the last fact, the discovery of the contraceptive pill implied revolutionary medical and societal development for people all around the world.

And well, here I leave you with a quick list of more Mexican inventions:

• 3D tv technology, in 1999 Manuel Gutiérrez Novelo created a virtual reality viewer and  this was adapted to the creation of 3D television
• The first semi-automatic rifle in history, the Mondragon Rifle was created by Mexican General Manuel Mondragon in 1884.
• “La Ola” (the wave), in every game of the World Cup Mexico 86’ the Mexican football fans did “the wave” and as every game was televised the practice of the wave gained popularity and now everyone around the globe waves around!

Hasta la proxima!

Fer