Armenian Celebrities

Der-Serobyan contributed to history through his invention of chemically safe black and green dyes in the currency of the United States of America. Der-Serobyan pursued courses in theology, chemistry, and medicine at Yala University after landing in the United States in 1842.

While conducting chemical tests in 1843, Der-Serobyan developed a novel dye formula almost impossible to forge, a crucial step in currency security. It was patented in 1854, and the specifics were kept top secret until contemporary years due to security concerns.

His achievement made him the first Armenian to receive a U.S. patent. The invention of the U.S. dollar became the global currency over other major currencies (Bukhari, 2021).

Due to this invention, he was rewarded by the state as a sign of appreciation. He was given a government medal, a cash prize in the form of the very dyes in the present-day equivalent of over two hundred thousand dollars.

The invention helped Der-Serobyan gain a higher level of education at Yale and achieve a degree in pharmacy, making him a respected member of the Armenian-American community and the security of currencies.

The Armenian aircraft designer Artem Mikoyan was related to the high-performance culture in aviation. He co-founded the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau, where he contributed significantly to developing practical fighter aircraft during World War II and the Cold War.

Mikoyan's most remarkable work is creating the MiG series, establishing considerable contributions to present aviation technology.

As a pioneer of Soviet aviation, Mikoyan's work was initially initiated in the early 1930s when he began to design aircraft, which paved the way for establishing the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. For Soviet military aviation, the MiG series, especially the MiG-15 and MiG-21, became legendary fighters, followed by the MiG-23 and MiG-25 series (Lubiejewski, 2023). These aircraft were used for better design, power, speed, and handling, giving them a decisive edge during aerial combat.

Through his inventions, Mikoyan played a vital role in the development of military aircraft and the general impact of aviation on the creation of modern wars.

Besides his technological contributions, Mikoyan's managerial and organizational role was instrumental in developing advanced aviation technology for the Soviet Union.

Fortunately, he was a great strategist in managing the political structure of the Soviet Union during his time and did manage to resource his projects.

The philosophy propagated by Mikoyan is passed on to generations of engineers and designers, guiding them in their quest for superior technology embodied in aerospace engineering.

Emic Avakian is commonly known for his significant contribution to assistive technology aimed at giving independence to a specific group of people.

Having cerebral palsy, Avakian's experiences paved the way for him to design products that offered much-needed enhancements to persons with disabilities.

He has consistently developed new inventions and innovations, including high-end breathing apparatuses, text-to-speech gadgets, and efficient storage media (Sáez-Peñataro et al., 2024).

The invented gadgets were widely used in healthcare facilities to help patients with various problems. Avakian has made a profound positive difference in communication and information systems for people with disabilities, changing assistive technology forever.

Avakian developed several awarded and patented inventions due to his innovative methods, which brought together technology and human wants.

While he made his best effort to enhance people's quality of life through inventions and innovations, the idea was propelled by his soft heart for people with physical challenges.

Avakian's combination of technology and humanity carries on inspiring millions of people all across the world.

Avakian's inventions show how possibilities can be created even with restrictions, especially in the technology that helps those needing support.

Manoogian, who embodied the American success story of entrepreneur and benevolence, created an impact through his single–handle faucet.

Alexander's innovation was a breakthrough in plumbing and was incorporated into most homes and commercial buildings across the globe.

Manoogian was famous for his generosity in supporting educational, cultural, and social businesses that led to economic improvements in the country.

Since Manoogian's invention, residents and commercial establishments have access to a more convenient way of regulating water temperature and flow.

His well-known single-handle faucet design patent dates back to the 50's and indeed revolutionized plumbing fixtures.

Given his invention's success, Manoogian grew his business and became a renowned name in plumbing. Additionally, Manoogian contributed to the spiritual development of his community as an outstanding businessman and philanthropist (Margină et al., 2020).

He also founded the Manoogian Foundation, which primarily funded various educational and cultural projects involving Armenians most of the time.

His company specializes in helping the needy and investing in the future generation, so success brings positive societal changes.

More so, his undying remains are a significant concern as a mirror of technological inventions and the spirit of people in business concerning poverty eradication and the growth of the economy.

Arthur H. Bulbulian is a charismatic figure in medical advancement and is identified for his excellent endeavours in facial prosthetics.

As an Armenian inventor, Bulbulian's value and hardworking spirit not only entered the field of surgery but also into the sphere of aviation security and scientific technology and medical progress, respectively, expressing his concern and ingenuity, both scientific and humanitarian (Featherstone & Ball, 2020). In the mid-1900s, Bulbulian invented the Bulbulian face mask, which constituted a massive change in the development of oxygen masks for high-altitude aviators.

This innovation was significant in the Second World War since it enhanced pilots’ chance and ability to survive under unfavourable conditions.

The government has established how respiratory devices can be developed to help aviators and people with breathing issues in the future.

Moreover, Bulbulian contributed to improving the quality of life of patients who suffered from injury or disease.

It offered new hope for patients other than enhancing the aesthetic and functionality of surgical results and extending the horizon of medicine, specifically in rehabilitation and healing.

An interesting fact about Arthur H. Bulbulian's professional life was his passion for solving problems by implementing change initiatives.

His accomplishments illustrate the power that careful, systematic study and improvement can bring to a single life cycle and the world.

Bulbulian's work can be seen as a contribution that culminates the application of scientific knowledge and passion for the better creation of human life.

Hovannes Adamian, the Architect of the first color television.
Armenian engineer and inventor Hovannes Adamian also attributed himself to one of the developers of color television.

His work in the early 1900s set the stage for modern color TV and revolutionized how people watch visual content.

R. Adamians' interest in color television dates back to the 1920s when he started investigating the possibilities of color TV transmission and image reproduction (McBurney, 2020).

His research was the basis for his proposal of a tricolor principle, which helped develop modern color TV systems.

Having publicly depicted his color television system in Berlin in 1925, the scientist proved how this new technology could change the world of visual media.

Adamian's accomplishments were in terms of his technical advances and vision for television's future. He understood that switching to color can significantly affect viewer experience and how people consume information.

Through his inventions, innovations, and work, Adamian has shaped television as a technology that created the colorful and dynamic visual media it is today.

He lives on in his contributions, where future generations of engineers and inventors are urged to explore new technological horizons and ways of delivering messages through graphics.

Harry Tatosian is one of the most influential figures in the food industry, as he invented the ice cream cone.

He created a machine used in manufacturing ice cream cones, making the manufacturing of ice cream cones easier and uniform (Bai et al., 2022).

Ice cream cones used to be made by hand before Tatosian came up with his model, a process that was both lengthy and unstandardized.

His machine increased the cone production rate and ensured that they were uniform, which improved their commercial value and made cones popular as treats.

Tatosian's innovation not only impacted the way ice cream cones were made, but it also helped to make these treats more accessible and consumer-friendly to people all over the globe.

His legacy illustrates the latter, demonstrating the practical approach's significance, indicating that even simple ideas might be transformed into valuable parts of people's lives worldwide.

Today, the automated production methods he introduced remain relevant in the field and provide people with this delicious dessert in a convenient and identical format.

Gabriel Kazanjian is credited for the improvement of the innovative hair dryer.

His contribution to personal grooming devices is described in his US patent, which outlines how to make hair dryers work more efficiently, safely, and conveniently for the user.

The contour of Kazanjian's patent likely contains additional features such as improved ergonomics, heating systems to lower drying duration and heat impact on strands, and inbuilt safety mechanisms to avoid overheating. His patent work reflects both the engineering knowledge and sound market understanding to bring changes in daily personal care appliances.

Kazanjian's invention proves there is always room for improvement, even in mature markets and product types.
Kazanjian's hair dryer patent not only lies in the category of personal grooming devices but also brings out the creativity of inventors for making small changes that optimize the usability of a product.

Luther George Simjian is an Armenian-American inventor who was most prominent for his contribution to the invention of Automatic Teller Machines (ATM). Some of his achievements are demonstrated in his invention of a cash dispensing machine ATM that revolutionized the banking industry. Simjian's involvement in automating financial transactions dates back to the middle of the 20th century, as he saw that machines could enhance the simplicity and security of banking transactions.

These ideas guided him into developing a prototype by which cash could be deposited and dispensed automatically, a feature that was unheard of in the past. With creativity and vision, Simjian deployed a leap in the banking field regarding invention. The patent of Simjian outlines a system that can accept deposits, withdraw cash, and record transactions using a machine with little or no involvement of the teller, which created what is observed in the current ATM, such as security, record-keeping, and cash operation mechanization (Young et al., 2023).

While his efforts to bring the commercialization of the ATM into fruition were met with resistance by the banks, who questioned consumers' readiness for a new method that would change banking procedures drastically, the innovation of the ATM gained global recognition as banks embraced the use of automated teller technology.

Simjian's work on the ATM patent shows how great thinkers can significantly impact technology and society by thinking outside the box. Many people continue to use ATMs, which makes the world witness the invaluable mark left by a remarkable idea.

Banker, born May 31, 1895, died January 1979, is considered one of the most important pioneers of the automotive industry and the entire automobile movement for his work on automatic transmission. These inventions have revolutionized the automotive industry by improving accessibility, safety, and the general convenience of operating automobiles across the globe.

Banker's automatic transmission solved one of the significant issues with shifting gears manually to design a direct and efficient driving mode that changed gears mechanically according to speed and load (Zou et al., 2022). His commitment to surmounting these challenges was the building blocks of his genius and his eventual revolutionizing of automotive engineering.

These objectives were achieved through Banker's invention of gear shifts without driver involvement, a significant step in automotive engineering. Apart from enhancing the comfort of car driving, this innovation enhanced the performance and safety of automobiles by minimizing the chances of wrong gear changes and the selection of the operators.

These innovations were patented, thus providing the technological foundation for automatic transmission systems in the automotive industry today. Therefore, Oscar H. Banker's long-lasting legacy can be summed up in three attributes: visionary, innovative, and devoted to using tech for the public good. The popularity of automatic transmission is one of his most significant innovations, proving Banker's influence in automotive engineering and design.

Armenian-American inventor Stephen Stepanian designed a concrete mixer truck that changed the construction industry. Before this creation, mixing concrete was tireless, sometimes leading to variations in the quality of concrete produced. His 'motorized self-discharging concrete mixer' of the early twentieth century included a rotating drum placed on a truck frame as it mixed concrete en route to construction sites.

The adjustments by Stepanian enabled concrete to get to the site in the best state for immediate use, thus increasing its efficiency and reliability in construction projects. As for innovations, Stepanian's concrete mixer truck contributed to the optimization of concrete production and the attempt to minimize labor and time consumption compared to manual methods (Malekipour & Moodi, 2021).

Through Stepanian's invention, construction work progress has accelerated with the speed of constructing infrastructures, buildings, and roads across the globe. As a result of developing new techniques, Stepanian got a patent, and the use of concrete mixer trucks remains an essential element of construction work to this day. He has been a pioneer, and his inventions have defined the construction business for decades, proving that he left a lasting legacy in the technology and construction field.

Raymond Damadian was an American nuclear physicist and medical doctor who invented nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, now known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an innovative technology that has revolutionized disease diagnosis and treatment through refined and painless visual examination of the human body.

By preparing the ultimate tool for diagnosing and subsequent treatment of various illnesses, Damadian has offered a pivotal contribution to today's healthcare provision. Damadian's road to developing the MRI started with his work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and its uses in diagnostics. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, was created in the early 70s (Damadian et al., 2022). It essentially was the first MR scanner to produce an image of the inside of the body without having surgery.

Damadian's invention was a significant development in the field of technology in medical practice since it assisted doctors in diagnosing their patients' conditions better and coming up with better strategies when it comes to treatments. Damadian's invention of MRI has become a standard tool for diagnosing diseases and is currently being implemented in most hospitals and clinics worldwide.

Innovative ideas that potentially change the way health care is provided should be encouraged and implemented in healthcare facilities to improve the efficiency of operations. Such innovations merely illustrate the ability of researchers and developers to advance the scientific frontiers and positively affect the quality of human life.

Michel Ter-Pogossian transformed the medical imaging method by discovering and developing positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The discovery of PET has made a difference in nuclear medicine since it allows one to see details of the physiological activities in the body.

Ter-Pogossian began by envisioning the use of positrons for diagnosis for imaging. Through labour-intensive research in the 1970s, he was able to develop a PET scanner – a technology that enabled the visual imaging of the metabolic activities of living people. PET scans are crucial to cancer diagnosis and in evaluating patients' brains and hearts, diagnosing, estimating their condition, and providing targeted therapy (Nisticò, 2020).

Additionally, Ter-Pogossian made numerous contributions to developing medical imaging technologies and the designation of sustainable standards by discovering the PET scanner. His passion for improving medical technology further defines him as one of the greatest innovators in healthcare history.

Inspired by Michel Ter-Pogossian, his work demonstrates the light science brings to people and the constant striving to obtain knowledge to improve human life.

Cyrus Melikian, a commercial reformer, significantly impacted the field of automated service by inventing coffee vending machines. His invention introduced a new facet of comfort and productivity to offices and facilities across the globe.

Melikian joined the automated dispensing movement by immediately accepting coffee requests and brewing it the traditional way. He started a company that developed one of the first coffee vending machines with his business partner (Sibanda et al., 2020). This machine made coffee one cup at a time and kept it hot and fresh, thus improving coffee service for offices, hospitals, and train stations.

Beyond satisfying the public's demand for instant service, Melikian's machine sparked a vending industry revolution, paving the way for today's automated food and beverage dispensers. Furthermore, he has left behind technological convenience in the service sector, demonstrating how innovative ideas and management mentality can change the world.

Each button pushed and each cup given denote the joy and simplicity of life, thus highlighting Melikian’s ever-relevant impact on today’s services.

The Zildjian family boasts an unparalleled 401-year legacy of craftsmanship and innovation in music. The history of cymbals dates back to the 17th century in Constantinople when Avedis Zildjian I came up with a unique alloy formula that helped him manufacture the best cymbals, famous for their quality and long life.

Zildjian has run the family business for generations and centuries. The company has never ceased to innovate and improve the cymbal production process to meet the musicians' requirements (Aykent, 2020). From a local jazz band to a world-class symphony orchestra, musicians began to rely on the brand and its reliability.

The influence was further advanced by CHO’s move to the United States and the Zildjian cymbals used to pioneer new music styles such as big band swing or rock and roll. Zildjian represents tradition and authority today because the family understands the nature of sound and what musicians need.

These are touchstones across generations, prescribing the parameters for musicality with each tap, chime, and bang. From the passion and hard work of the Zildjian family, one of the most prestigious names in music has emerged, still provoking musicians and audiences internationally.