INOX to Invention : Hedy Lamarr

Know the actress and inventor whose invention led to the digital communication boom. #notMANmade

Mohit Munjal
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

Popularized as the “The most beautiful woman ever to appear on silver screen”, Hedy Lamarr was an actress by day and an inventor by night. Had it not been for this inventive genius, cellular phones and satellite communication would not be as we see them today.

An Austrian-Jewish emigrant, Lamarr came up with a “frequency-hopping-spread-spectrum”. By hopping(changing) the frequency at irregular intervals, it prevented the Nazis from tracking and jamming radio controlled torpedos.

Along with George Antheil, a pianist and her co-inventor, they filed and received a patent for it in 1941 but the gravity of their contribution was not realized until decades. Today it is regarded as one of the cornerstones that led to the digital communications boom.

Majorly known for her film appearances, there were only a few who knew the inventive side of Lamarr. One among them was the aviation tycoon, Howard Hughes, who had once asked for her ideas to improve aircraft designs. Lamarr, taking motivation from birds and fishes studied their aerodynamics and presented sketches to demonstrate that making the plane wings less square will make them more efficient.

“You’re a genius”, Hughes had remarked after seeing her findings.

Hedy smashed stereotypes proving she was more than just another pretty face. Her contribution to the field of wireless communication makes her one of the most important inventors of the 20th century.

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This series(#notMANmade) was a result of my discussion with a few friends who were not able to recall any name of women inventors and easily listed atleast 5 male inventors. I will be posting more about women inventors and their contributions in the coming days.The post originally went live on Stories Worth Sharing, an initiative that aims to end the noise on internet through stories.

Mohit Munjal

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Learner | Programmer | Storyteller | www.youtube.com/c/talesandtacos

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