This Actress Was Also a Genius Inventor

Hedy Lamarr was a Hollywood actress and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of telecommunications. Born in Austria in 1914, Lamarr was known for her beauty and talent as an actress, starring in films such as “Samson and Delilah” and “Boom Town.” However, she was also a skilled inventor who made important advances in the field of wireless communication.

One of Lamarr’s most significant inventions was a system for frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), which was developed during World War II as a way to prevent enemy forces from intercepting radio-controlled torpedoes. Lamarr’s system used a piano roll to change the frequency of the signal being transmitted, making it much more difficult for the signal to be detected or jammed by enemy forces.

While Lamarr’s invention was not initially adopted by the military, it laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi. In 1997, Lamarr and her co-inventor, George Antheil, were awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award for their work on FHSS.

In addition to her work on FHSS, Lamarr was also an inventor in her own right, holding several patents for inventions related to cosmetics and traffic control.

Despite her numerous achievements, Lamarr’s contributions as an inventor were often overshadowed by her career as an actress. However, she has been recognized in recent years for her important role in the development of modern wireless communication technologies. Lamarr’s story is a reminder of the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of all individuals, regardless of their profession or background