One lesser-known history fact is the story of Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress who made significant contributions to technology during World War II. Hedy Lamarr, born as Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in 1914 in Austria, was not only known for her glamorous career as a movie star in the 1930s and 1940s, but she also co-invented a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) communication system that was used as a basis for modern Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology.
During World War II, Lamarr was concerned about the security of communication between Allied forces and sought to develop a system that could prevent radio-controlled torpedoes from being jammed by the enemy. Together with her friend, composer George Antheil, Lamarr came up with the concept of FHSS, which involved transmitting radio signals on multiple frequencies that would constantly change in a synchronized pattern, making it difficult for enemies to intercept or jam the signals.
Lamarr and Antheil were awarded a patent for their invention in 1942, but it was initially classified and did not gain much recognition at the time. However, their invention laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication and has been used in various applications, including military and civilian communications, as well as in modern technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
Despite her remarkable contribution to technology, Lamarr's work in inventing FHSS was largely overlooked during her lifetime, and she was primarily recognized for her acting career. However, in recent years, she has gained more recognition posthumously for her significant contributions to the field of wireless communication and her pioneering work that has impacted modern technology.
