Hedy Lamarr’s most significant technological contribution was her co-invention, together with composer George Antheil, of an early technique for spread spectrum communications and frequency hopping. This paved the way for today’s wireless communications and which, upon its invention in 1941, was deemed so vital to national defense that government officials would not allow publication of its details.
Today WiFi is everywhere and can be broadcasted and rebroadcasted almost endlessly – connecting data and telecommunication networks, Smart phones, computers, traffic signal devices, security systems – it is not unusual for entire cities to be under a single WiFi umbrella.
In celebration of the inventor and Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr’s 101st birthday, Google put together this interesting video: