Hedy Lamarr: A Hollywood Starlet with a Unique Hobby
Hedy Lamarr's Impact on Contemporary Military Communications
What if I told you that a major communications technology was invented by a Hollywood actress? And what if I told you that this complex and vital technology was invented during WWII when there were no computers, integrated circuits, or transistors? Finally, what if I told you that this invention is used today in a variety of communications systems, including cellphones, wireless LANs, Bluetooth, and GPS?
Surprised? When I first heard about it, I was too! Hedy Lamarr, one of the most famous actresses of the 20th century is also the inventor of spread-spectrum transmission. And what an incredible story she has too. For Women’s History Month, we’re taking some time to celebrate this important inventor, particularly because so much of what we do here at Radio Design Group is built on her technology!
A Mind at Work
Born in Austria, Hedy had a penchant for inventing from her youth. When the Nazis took over Austria, she moved to the United States and quickly gained fame as a movie star. During the war years, Hedy invented a form of spread-spectrum transmission known as frequency hopping, using the available technology of the time. The goal was to make a jam-proof remote control system for torpedoes, and what she proposed would have done just that, but the Navy was skeptical of her knowledge.
Eventually, the military took an interest in the invention as the technology became capable and began to deploy systems using the basic concept Hedy had outlined years before. Today, hundreds of technologies use spread-spectrum, including Radio Design Group’s patented MVSK jam-resistant technology.
Watch the video below for more fascinating facts about Hedy Lamarr, one of our “inspirational giants.”
Further Reading
Read our blog post on the secure speech system SIGSALY in “Darkest Hour” (2017).
Learn all about Hedy’s life and contributions on her biography website.
There is also an excellent book on her inventive side, Hedy’s Folly.
Read this article at the National Women’s History Museum website.
Let’s talk! RDG’s Radio Solutions
Should you have a requirement for spread-spectrum technology, get in touch and let us help you put Hedy’s invention to work for you!