Inventions by Women
It was during this big-hair decade that young inventor Rachel Zimmerman created a symbol communication device called the Blissymbol.
The 1980s.
The 12-year-old Zimmerman’s invention allowed non-speaking people to communicate using symbols on a touchpad.
Debuting in 1969 and running for decades, this brand’s most famous commercial features an owl asking, “How many licks” to the center of this sweet treat.
A Tootsie Pop.
This is one of the longest-running commercials in TV ad history and is often aired around candy centric holidays like Halloween.
Animal lovers rejoiced in 1981, when a research center was founded to find alternatives to this controversial kind of cosmetic testing.
Animal Testing.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing funds grants and research for finding animal-safe testing methods.
In 1950, this agency released the first 10 Most Wanted list.
The FBI.
The previous year, the International News Service ran a story on “the worst of the worst” fugitives, and a tip from someone who saw a photo led to the conviction of a three-time murderer.
Old-style analog phones use this feature to input the phone number.
A Dial.
The dial was invented in 1891. These phones are called rotary phones.
During the 1970s, Erna Schneider Hoover patented a new switching system that helped manage calls from these devices.
Telephones.
Hoover's patent helped telephone call centers manage a higher volume of calls.
In the 1990s, a famous commercial for this soft drink featured Cindy Crawford simply walking to a vending machine.
Pepsi.
The commercial first aired during the 1992 Super Bowl.
Popular since the 1960s, this cosmetic brand is named for its founder and known for its trademark pink cars driven by the company’s salespeople.
Mary Kay.
Mary Kay Ash decided customers would rather purchase products in a home environment and created her direct sales model.
Home entertainment was transformed with the introduction of this electronic.
Color TV.
RCA was the first to invent and bring color TV to market. Color was first broadcast in 1953 but became more widely adopted in the 1960s.
This is the United States’ emergency phone number.
911.
It’s easy to remember, and it was introduced in 1968.
Maria Telkes was an inventor nicknamed the “Sun Queen” for her inventions in this kind of energy.
Solar.
Her career spanned the 20th century and spawned creations like a solar distillation device and a home heated entirely through solar energy.
A 1987 Super Bowl commercial from this beer brand featured a goofy bull terrier named Spuds MacKenzie.
Bud Light.
The commercial was successful but drew criticism for being too child-friendly for a beer brand.
In the 1970s, this eyelash enhancer became popular in colorful varieties like blue, green, and purple.
Mascara.
Mascara innovation continued in the ’80s, when vitamins and growth serums were added to the cosmetic.
This movement gained momentum after the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
The Civil Rights Movement.
Rosa Parks’ arrest sparked the boycott when she refused to give up her seat on the bus.
This invention inspired the telephone.
The Telegraph.
Telegraphs were used for written messages. Western Union delivered its last telegram in 2006.
This bulletproof material used for vests and other military gear was invented thanks to scientist Stephanie Kwolek.
Kevlar.
During her time working at DuPont, Kwolek created a solid, lightweight material that became known as Kevlar.
Fittingly, an Apple commercial from this year referenced George Orwell’s most famous book.
1984.
The computer brand played off the novel’s idea of conformity to espouse their new PC as breaking the mold.
Cover Girl introduced a “crackle” variety of this fingertip-adorning cosmetic in 1999.
Nail Polish.
Gals might remember the trend from the ’90s and 2000s of layering crackle nail polish over a contrasting color to create a unique, weathered look.
Men’s fashion evolved to the Ivy League look, featuring these shirts and loafers.
A Button Down.
Some of the fashions, such as Oxford button-down shirts and khakis, remain popular.
Before callers could complete calls themselves, they relied on these women to make the calls for them.
Switchboard Operators.
As automatic switching took over, the number of switchboard operators declined. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1,460 operators remained in 2019.
Inventor Patricia Bath created the Laserphaco Probe in 1986, which allowed eye doctors to safely dissolve this vision-disturbing clouding of the eye lens.
A Cataract.
Bath’s probe is still used today as a painless way to treat cataracts.
One of the most famous commercial campaigns of all time, Coca-Cola’s 1971 “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” ad was originally shot in this European nation.
Italy.
The beautiful Roman hillside was actually the backup location; weather prevented shooting at the Cliffs of Dover.
In the 1970s, eyeshadow shades went pearlescent and were called this word, which calls to mind cakes more than makeup.
Frosted.
Cosmetics trends of the decade included highly blended frosted shadows in one shade across the entire lid.
This “Rebel Without a Cause” became the symbol of teenage rebellion.
James Dean.
His three films are Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. He was also an auto racer, and he died because of injuries sustained in a car crash on his way to a racing event
Alexander Graham Bell suggested this greeting when answering the phone.
"Ahoy".
Thomas Edison suggested “hello,” and it’s the most common greeting in English-speaking countries