In 1937, Hedy Lamarr fled her home in Austria after learning that her husband was selling munitions to the Nazi Party. Well-known as a Hollywood film star, she would also be remembered as one of the great innovators in communication technology history.
When she wasn’t on a film set, Lamarr was working with composer and friend George Antheil. Inspired by the 88 keys on a piano rollo, they created a device that could jam the systems that operated radio-guided torpedoes.
The Secret Communications System was patented in 1942 but unfortunately rejected by military officials. Although disheartened by the failed attempt to help the U. S. Navy during World War II, Lamarr still made a significant contribution to the war effort. 2018, PBS reported she raised an astonishing US$343 million in war bonds, accounting for inflation, to support the military.
Even though her invention was ignored at the time, in recent years her legacy as an inventor has gained traction along with questions about her legitimacy. Some have dubbed her “the Mother of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth,” giving her credit for creating “frequency-hopping.” But Chris Mason, a Stanford Electrical Engineer, says that while she is a pioneer in frequency-hopping development, she cannot actually be credited with its invention.
“There are some misconceptions that Hedy Lamarr invented frequency-hopping and by extension Bluetooth and Wi-Ffi technology,” says Mason. “This isn’t quite true as Nikola Tesla was working with frequency-hopping almost 40 years earlier. However, her contribution would have influenced future designs. Perhaps we could consider her as one of the great ‘frequency-hopping influencers’ as well as a talented inventor?”
