Lino, age 10, tests the String Ring
Lino Marrero became an inventor when he was just 10 years old. When he played his cello, his fingers would blister. To protect his fingers, Lino created the String Ring. It’s an adjustable band that musicians can wear while playing a stringed instrument like a cello or a guitar.
That was Lino’s first invention—and it wasn’t the last for the 16-year-old! He has a whole notebook of ideas that could help solve problems that he’s experienced. “I think there should be more inventors out there, especially kids,” he says. “Kids are really creative, and they have more of a growth mindset than adults.”
When Lino was 14, he came up with the idea of shoes that could charge devices. It came to him when his phone died at soccer practice. He didn’t have a charger, so he couldn’t call his mom to pick him up. He remembered a recent science class about energy. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head: What if he could use the energy he created when running on the soccer field to power his phone?
Lino Marrero became an inventor at 10. His fingers blistered when he played cello. Lino created the String Ring to protect them. Musicians wear the adjustable band when playing a stringed instrument like a cello or guitar.
That was Lino’s first invention. It was not his last. The 16-year-old has a whole notebook of ideas. They help solve problems he experienced. “I think there should be more inventors out there, especially kids,” he says. Children “are really creative and have more of a growth mindset than adults.”
Lino came up with shoes that could charge devices when he was 14. His phone died at soccer practice. He had no charger and no way to call his mom to pick him up. Then he remembered a science class on energy. A light bulb went off in his head. What if he used the energy he created when running on the field to power his phone?