jlk – WiFi has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. But do you know who stands behind the invention of this pivotal technology?
As it turns out, the figure behind the creation of WiFi is a woman also known as a Hollywood film star, Hedy Lamarr.
Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Kiesler in Vienna, Austria in 1914, has an extraordinary life story.
At a relatively young age, she married a wealthy ammunition manufacturer but was unhappy in her marriage.
Her daring escape by riding a bicycle in the middle of the night marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey in her life.
Upon arriving in the United States, she caught the attention of MGM Studio Head, Louis B. Mayer, on a ship journey from London to New York.
With her charm and talent, she managed to secure contracts to star in Hollywood films in 1937.
Not only that, she also had relationships with famous figures such as John F. Kennedy and Howard Hughes, who provided her with equipment to conduct experiments at her home.
Hedy Lamarr was not just a film star but also had a natural talent for invention.
She often expressed that invention came easily to her as ideas flowed naturally. One of her significant inventions was a secret communication system using frequency-hopping technology.
She collaborated with George Antheil, a composer, to create this system with the aim of preventing enemy interference with radio signals controlling torpedoes.
Although this invention laid the foundation for the WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS technologies we use today, their patent went unrecognized by the U.S. military until the 1960s, and they did not receive royalties or credit for their invention.
Hedy Lamarr passed away in 2000 at the age of 86, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s that she began to receive recognition for her contributions to science and technology.
These accolades include the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Hedy Lamarr is proof that intelligence is often overlooked in the limelight of society.
She not only showcased her physical beauty on the silver screen but also had a keen interest in research and invention.
As a woman who intimidated many men in her time, Hedy Lamarr inspires us to appreciate intelligence alongside beauty.
Thus, Hedy Lamarr is a film star who is also the inventor of WiFi, a title that reflects her brilliance and remarkable contributions to the world of technology.