Hedy Lamarr is an Austrian woman best known for her roles on screen in Hollywood. She began acting when she was only 17 years old, but also had a love of mathematics and was very smart. She was married to a Nazi lover, living in Austria, and her husband dealt arms to Nazis. Attending his meetings is where she learned about advanced weaponry. It was not until after she left her husband, moved to London, remarried, and immigrated to the US that she co-invented the technology that we use for devices like cell phones and computers today.

Her invention of spectrum technology began when she was working in the film business in the US and she teamed up with George Antheil, who worked in music. They both wanted to do something to help with the war that was going on back home, so the began their invention of interrupting radio signals at irregular times between transmission and reception. What this allowed them to do was send secret messages during the war without them being heard by the enemy.

Two years later, the two were awarded a patent for their invention that that then donated to help in World War II. Little did they know, it wouldn’t be used until the Cuban Missile Crisis, about 20 years after the war. Neither of the two received any credit for their invention.

Recently, however, Lamarr has been very well recognized for her invention and has even become the first female to receive the BULBIE Gnass Spirit of Achievement Bronze Award for it. This award is the equivalent of on Oscar for acting, but is for inventors. Her invention was not very widely used until recent years also. It is now more commonly known as WiFi. Lamarr is now in her eighties and living in Florida. She has lived an interesting and fulfilling life being both a sexy movie star known for her beauty, and now, finally, an intelligent female inventor who pioneered technology we use so often today.