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Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000) was an Austrian and American film actress and inventor. Even though she was mostly known for her beauty, and that she was starred in many movies and TV shows, she helped to invent a technique for ‘spread spectrum communications’, which is a way of using radio waves to communicate, as it enables multiple users to share radio frequencies at the same time without interfering with each other. Through her plans of inventing a radio-controlled torpedo, The ‘Secret Communication System’ she gave her knowledge and ideas for others to invent many other devices, and the spread spectrum communication.
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With the help and inspiration of George Antheil, a pianist, author and inventor, they created a plan to create a secret communication system, which could guide a torpedo using technology called frequency hopping so that signal wouldn’t be intercepted. It was originally designed to defeat the German Nazis, in the war. Her knowledge helped to invent spread-spectrum radio technology, the start of modern wireless communications. She also created a new Kleenex box, and traffic signal, which never really went anywhere.
Hedy Lamarr worked with George Antheil to come up with a system for radio-controlled torpedoes. The idea was not new, but Lamarr’s concept of frequency hopping to prevent the target from jamming the controller’s transmissions was. Lamarr was inspired by Antheil’s invention of dozen of pianos playing synchronized. They thought “if pianos could be synchronised to hop from one note to another, why couldn’t radio frequencies of a torpedo do one as well”. They figured that if you could make both the transmitter and the receiver simultaneously jump from frequency to frequency, and then someone trying to jam the signal wouldn’t know where it was. She was also inspired to help World War II, as Lamarr had learned something about torpedoes during her marriage to Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian military arms merchant. They created the "Secret Communications System," which was to change the radio frequencies to keep enemies from decoding it. Hedy Lamarr did a sketch to design and plan her invention. She drew different figures to get the different perspectives on the invention. She also labeled her work to clearly show her drawings.
Hedy Lamarr worked with George Antheil to come up with a system for radio-controlled torpedoes. The idea was not new, but Lamarr’s concept of frequency hopping to prevent the target from jamming the controller’s transmissions was. Lamarr was inspired by Antheil’s invention of dozen of pianos playing synchronized. They thought “if pianos could be synchronised to hop from one note to another, why couldn’t radio frequencies of a torpedo do one as well”. They figured that if you could make both the transmitter and the receiver simultaneously jump from frequency to frequency, and then someone trying to jam the signal wouldn’t know where it was. She was also inspired to help World War II, as Lamarr had learned something about torpedoes during her marriage to Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy Austrian military arms merchant. They created the "Secret Communications System," which was to change the radio frequencies to keep enemies from decoding it. Hedy Lamarr did a sketch to design and plan her invention. She drew different figures to get the different perspectives on the invention. She also labeled her work to clearly show her drawings.
Hedy Lamarr’s work has become very successful and significant. Her work and knowledge has helped to inspire and give information to many new inventors to help create amazing new creations and technology. Her idea has been a big help and inspiration and has been very significant. The U.S. navy adopted Lamarr’s idea in the 1960s as she gave her plans and patterns to the navy. The U.S. didn’t use her idea until 1962 during a blockade in Cuba. Many other inventors and scientists like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Wi-Lan Inc. used her ideas.
Lamarr’s work has impacted society and it’s technology significantly. Due to her knowledge, she was able to impact computer science by giving it the idea and pattern of frequency hopping to help the development of technology to maintain its security. Since she has help to improve and expand computer science’s understanding, it has made an impact on our society today. It has helped to give other inventors ideas and helped to broaden the inventions made. Once the U.S navy and other companies adopted her idea, their knowledge and inventions had improved and made an impact significantly. Lamarr’s idea helped many to create their own system (e.g. the Milstar system which is a constellation of communication satellites). Her idea has helped to contribute to the knowledge of the Spread Spectrum theory, where you can use more wireless connections. As this happened, our lives today has benefitted and has made our lives easier with new and improved technology. The spread spectrum theory has helped to invent wireless connections to cellphones and satellite connects. Also, her knowledge has helped to create Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which has a big impact on our lives today. Wi-Fi (wireless local area network), also known as the Internet, has greatly improved technology and has been a great resource to help us. Internet has helped us to connect with others, research things with in a second, and has overall made our lives easier. Bluetooth is the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices, has made it easier for us to connect electronics and technology together wirelessly. Many people in our lives today use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth around everyday, and with all the new apps and websites the Internet and Bluetooth occurs in helps us in everyday life.
Lamarr’s work has impacted society and it’s technology significantly. Due to her knowledge, she was able to impact computer science by giving it the idea and pattern of frequency hopping to help the development of technology to maintain its security. Since she has help to improve and expand computer science’s understanding, it has made an impact on our society today. It has helped to give other inventors ideas and helped to broaden the inventions made. Once the U.S navy and other companies adopted her idea, their knowledge and inventions had improved and made an impact significantly. Lamarr’s idea helped many to create their own system (e.g. the Milstar system which is a constellation of communication satellites). Her idea has helped to contribute to the knowledge of the Spread Spectrum theory, where you can use more wireless connections. As this happened, our lives today has benefitted and has made our lives easier with new and improved technology. The spread spectrum theory has helped to invent wireless connections to cellphones and satellite connects. Also, her knowledge has helped to create Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which has a big impact on our lives today. Wi-Fi (wireless local area network), also known as the Internet, has greatly improved technology and has been a great resource to help us. Internet has helped us to connect with others, research things with in a second, and has overall made our lives easier. Bluetooth is the short-range wireless interconnection of mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices, has made it easier for us to connect electronics and technology together wirelessly. Many people in our lives today use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth around everyday, and with all the new apps and websites the Internet and Bluetooth occurs in helps us in everyday life.
Hedy Lamarr’s idea and knowledge accompanied by George Antheil, of the Secret Communications System, has helped to inspire and developed the Spread spectrum theory. It has helped and inspired many other inventors to develop something new. As she has helped to develop the Spread spectrum theory, the system has an important step in the development of technology to maintain the security of both military communications and cellular phones. Lamarr even received a reward in 1997 from the electronic Frontier Foundation, for ‘ inspiring the modern era of secure military communications system with your frequency-hopping concept. Your engineering vision paved the way for successful development of the Milstar system”. She helped many people to create their own systems and invent their own technology.
Overall, Hedy Lamarr was a very intelligent woman, who helped to inspire and impact our lives today, and has helped to improve our technology.
Overall, Hedy Lamarr was a very intelligent woman, who helped to inspire and impact our lives today, and has helped to improve our technology.