Kamal Ghorui
Hedy Lamarr was born on 9 November 1914 under the name Hedwig Eva Kiesler in the Austrian city of Vienna. Although she was celebrated for her work in the field of cinema, she was also making a mark on the world by revolutionising the field of modern technology. According to Women’s History, she was well-known for her beauty on the silver screen in movies such as Samson and Delilah and White Cargo, Lamarr was more than just a pretty face. She had a brilliant mind and a creative brain, although this side of her life remained largely eclipsed by her fame as a movie star. Lamarr’s work eventually paved the path for the creation of wireless communication technologies such as WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth.
Hedy Lamarr’s early life , family background, and Hollywood beginnings
Born to a rich Jewish family, Lamarr grew up in a well-to-do environment. Lamarr’s father was a bank director and encouraged his daughter to be curious and to learn by often engaging in conversations about machines and inventions during long walks. Lamarr’s mother was a concert pianist and introduced her daughter to the world of music and the arts by enrolling her in piano and ballet classes from an early age. Lamarr had already started taking apart a music box.Lamarr was discovered by director Max Reinhardt at the age of 16, after which she was given training in acting in Berlin. The movie career of Hedy Lamarr began with her appearance in German films, starting with the movie “Geld auf der Straße” in 1930, and she rose to fame in 1932 after the release of the controversial movie “Ecstasy.” The life of Hedy Lamarr was also filled with complex relationship. According to the reports, she was married to Austrian munitions maker Fritz Mandl in 1933. In 1937, Lamarr divorced Mandl and moved to London, where she took with her knowledge of munitions and military technology that she would later use for her inventions.
Hedy Lamarr’s Hollywood career and early inventions
After this move to London, Lamarr was introduced to Louis B. Mayer from MGM Studios, marking the beginning of Lamarr’s Hollywood career. Lamarr’s acting career was a great success, and she became a renowned personality in American cinema. During this period, Lamarr continued to show interest in the field of science and inventions. She established a small lab within her trailer, which enabled her to continue her work even while shooting. Lamarr then dated renowned industrialist and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes.Hughes took her to the subject of aerodynamics and plane design. Lamarr utilised this information to develop a new wing design inspired by the fastest fish and birds. Lamarr’s inventions were not restricted to the field of aviation.
The creation of the system that inspired Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
In 1940, Lamarr was introduced to George Antheil, who was a composer and had a technical and experimental approach. They worked on a frequency-hopping communication system, which would prevent the interception of radio-controlled torpedoes during times of war. The system was based on a synchronised method of frequency-hopping, making it difficult for enemies to intercept the signals. As reported, Lamarr and Antheil were granted US Patent No. 2,292,387 for their invention in 1942. Although it was not adopted by the US Navy, it laid the foundation for modern wireless communication, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Hedy Lamarr’s later recognition and lasting legacy in technology
Although she continued with acting till 1958, her contribution to technology was not given due recognition during her lifetime. In April 1953, she became a US citizen, focusing on her life as her patent expired. In the later years, she was given due recognition for her contribution to technology. In 1997, Lamarr and Antheil were given the Pioneer Award by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. In addition, she was also given the Bulbie Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award as the first woman. In 2000, she died. Later, in 2014, she was inducted posthumously into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her contribution towards the development of wireless communication technology with her frequency hopping system.
