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National innovations ranging from medical equipment to popular utensils show Brazil's creativity and contribution in several areas
When talking about inventions created by Brazilians, the name of Santos Dumont is almost always the first to be remembered. But in addition to the aviation pioneer, Brazil has a long list of inventions that helped shape the modern world in several areas. From simple solutions to advanced technologies, many of these creations continue to be present in the daily lives of millions of people.
In this article, we highlight eight inventions developed in Brazil or by Brazilians that had a direct impact on everyday society, inside and outside the country.
Calls identifier
The caller ID, known as Bina, was created by the electrician from Minas Gerais, Nélio José Nicolai. He registered the patent for the invention in 1992, at a time when telephony was still not very accessible in Brazil.
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Despite having applied for the patent, Nélio faced legal battles that cast doubt on the authorship of the creation. Years later, the Federal District Court issued a favorable opinion in his favor. Nicolai passed away in 2017, at the age of 77, but left an important legacy for telecommunications.
Electric shower
In the 1940s, engineer Francisco Canhos, born in Jaú, developed the modern electric shower. Known as Chico, he created a practical and safe solution for heating water directly at the point of use.
The device operates using an electrical resistor that heats the water as it passes through the system. The temperature is adjustable using an electrical current selector. To this day, the model created by Canhos continues to be widely used in Brazil.
Clay filter
Although there is no single inventor attributed to the clay filter, the best-known model, called the “São João Filter”, was developed in the city of Jaboticabal, in São Paulo. It was created in the 1920s, on the initiative of Cerâmica Lamparelli, which used the abundant clay of the region.
With a red clay structure and porous candle, the filter became a symbol of water filtration in the 1980s and 1990s and is still very popular in many Brazilian homes.
electronic voting machine
The Brazilian electronic ballot box was created in 1995 by a committee formed by the TSE with the support of technicians from INPE and CTA. The objective was to develop the Electronic Vote Collector, which would eliminate human interference in the vote count.
The initiative brought more agility and reliability to the electoral process. Today, the Brazilian model is recognized internationally, despite being the target of questioning by some groups.
Stereobelt, the grandfather of the Walkman
The first portable stereo cassette player was invented in 1972 by Andreas Pavel. German by birth, Pavel moved to Brazil at the age of six and created the Stereobelt in the country.
He faced legal challenges to validate his invention and it was not until 1986 that he reached a royalty agreement with Sony in Germany. In 2004, a new agreement put an end to the legal disputes, although the Japanese company never acknowledged him as the creator of the Walkman.
Automatic transmission for heavy vehicles
Two Brazilian engineers, José Braz Araripe and Fernando Lemos, created an automatic transmission with hydraulic fluid for heavy vehicles. The invention was sold to General Motors, which offered two options: US$10 up front or US$1 per car sold with the technology.
Araripe chose immediate payment. Although there is controversy over the origin of the system, with references to a German company, the Brazilian duo is often credited with the innovation.
Convertible military aircraft
The EMB-312 Tucano, created in 1980 by Hungarian-Brazilian engineer Joseph Kóvacs, is a turboprop trainer and light attack aircraft. Produced by Embraer, the model stood out for its versatility and innovative design.
One of the differences was the position of the seats, with the rear seats raised higher, which made training easier. The Tucano was used extensively by the Brazilian Air Force and helped to consolidate Embraer's reputation on the world stage.
Modern antivenom
Brazilian public health expert Vital Brazil was responsible for creating the modern antivenom, based on studies by Frenchman Albert Calmette. Unlike the European model, which treated a single type of venom, Vital Brazil's model was more comprehensive.
He also founded the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, one of the world's leading producers of serums and vaccines. His contributions have saved thousands of lives and continue to be essential in the fight against venomous animal bites.
These inventions show that Brazilian creativity and talent go far beyond what is commonly known. From a simple clay filter to complex systems such as the electronic voting machine, Brazilian inventors have left profound marks on different sectors. Many of these creations continue to be used and admired.
With information from TechTudo.
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