Did an exotic actress from Vienna, considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood in the 1940s, really invent wireless? Not exactly, but the non-sensationalized facts of the matter are no less fascinating, involving Hollywood, the World War II Axis Powers, and remote control technology.
Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, better known as “Hedy Lamarr”, once really did patent a “Secret Communication System” for radio communication, meant to foil the Axis during WWII. It was specifically designed to be used as a remote control system to securely guide torpedoes while getting around the problem of jamming. Her idea at its core was really part of the larger concept of “frequency-hopping”, with her device developed with composer George Antheil.
Long forgotten until relatively recently, when it was re-discovered by researchers in 1997, the methods used in her invention were far ahead of their time, with the principles behind it paving the way for wide spectrum communication technology we enjoy today in Bluetooth and other wireless technologies.
Read the rest of the story HERE
A fascinating woman Hedy, one of the first woman to appear naked in a feature movie (Extase), a brilliant inventor and a shoplifter in her old days. A lot more colourful than her Hollywood contemporaries that’s for sure – Ted
I just visited my grandfather (93) in his assisted living, and he has an enormous framed pic of Hedy on his wall. The only celeb in his room. My son asked why he had a pic of someone dead on his wall. I explained how disturbing it would be if he had Britney Spears up there.
An absolute brilliant explanation Kerbey 😉
Oh, she is so interesting!
Thanks for introducing her to me!
HUGS!!! 🙂
My pleasure Carolyn 😉 🙂