To mark International Women’s Day this year we thought we would take you back in to the past, to an actress and inventor who made significant contributions to the field of wireless communications. In the 1940s, Hedy Lamarr was one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading ladies. But away from the cameras, her passion for innovation spawned the wireless communication technology that we take for granted today. Without her, there might be no WiFi, Bluetooth and even smartphones. But who was she?
Born in Austria in 1914, Hedy Lamarr, whose real name was Hedwig Kiesler, emigrated to the US in 1937 when she caught the eye of film producer Louis B. Mayer while travelling by ship from London to New York. She would go on to make over 25 movies, including ‘Algiers’ and ‘Samson and Delilah’, appearing opposite some of Tinseltown's most iconic leading men. She also had friends in high places and socialised with the likes of US President John F. Kennedy and business magnate Howard Hughes.
But when the cameras stopped rolling, Lemarr was also an accomplished inventor. She is purported to have spent several hours in her trailer on movie sets, testing and experimenting with technology and the result was several patents related to wireless communication. During World War II, Lemarr co-invented a 'frequency hopping’ spread spectrum system - a clever way of switching between radio frequencies to avoid jamming signals - although the technology was not immediately recognised it’s significance would be realised in later years and was used during the cuban missile crisis, to prevent radio-controlled torpedoes from being jammed by enemy signals. It was subsequently used in a wide range of military applications and would pave the way for the foundation for today's mobile phones, WiFi, Bluetooth, and, of course, GPS - leading her to be dubbed the ‘Mother of Wi-FI’.
Despite her groundbreaking work, Lamarr’s contributions to science and engineering were largely overlooked during her lifetime. It was only in the later years of her life that she received recognition for her achievements and she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014. Lamarr’s legacy as a pioneering female inventor and advocate for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has left an enduring legacy of inspiration and empowerment that will continue to shape the world for years to come.
At Jaltek, we are committed to providing equal opportunities and as such work with a number of local schools and colleges to promote STEM as a rewarding and enjoyable career, regardless of gender. There are opportunities to use innovation, creative skills, problem solving and critical thinking, and through education and informing, all young people can be encouraged and supported early in order to broaden their career choices. STEM is vital for growing the economy and staying globally competitive and no ones’ achievements in the area should or need ever be overlooked.
