NAKAKAGULAT: Ang PINOY na Naka-IMBENTO ng Videocalls Before Zoom Existed! Kaalaman Dito

Gregorio Zara: Ang Pinoy na Naka-IMBENTO ng Videocalls Before Zoom Existed! Kaalaman Dito

Did you know that long before Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime, a Filipino scientist had already laid the groundwork for the video call?

Meet Gregorio Y. Zara, a true Filipino genius, physicist, and inventor. In 1954, he developed a device called the “Videophone”—yes, a two-way communication system that allowed people to see and hear each other from different locations. It was called the Zara Videophone.

Imagine that: in the 1950s, when television was still black and white, Zara was already thinking of video communication over long distances!

Zara's invention used a television camera and signal transmission to enable live face-to-face conversations. Though the technology was primitive compared to today's standards, it was groundbreaking. His videophone was presented at an electronics conference and was even featured in international journals—but sadly, it didn’t receive widespread attention or support at the time.

Why? Because Zara was way ahead of his time. The infrastructure didn’t exist yet to make it commercially viable. But his innovation proves one thing: Filipino minds can lead the world in technology and innovation.

Gregorio Zara wasn’t just about video calls. He also invented an alcohol-powered airplane engine, worked on solar energy, and contributed significantly to science education in the Philippines. He was a man of vision.

So the next time you hop on a Zoom meeting or FaceTime with someone across the globe, remember—a Filipino helped make that possible.

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