Hedy Lamar in the film The Conspirators, 1943

Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr is now recognized as a female Inventor for her work on a secure radio guidance system for torpedos that was used successfully by the American military during World War II.

• Along with collaborator George Antheil, she was a pioneer in the field of wireless communications and spread spectrum technology

• Discovered how to manipulate radio frequencies (called frequency hopping) to form an unbreakable code to protect classified messages from being intercepted by the German military
• Her work was a forerunner to modern day Bluetooth technology used in mobile phones and Wi-Fi systems.

• She never received any money for her invention that was largely ignored at the time

• She was marketed as the most beautiful woman in the world by Hollywood film makers

• But she lived an unhappy life as a movie actress beset by scandal, celebrity, sexism and depression.

Hedy Lamarr's 101st Birthday Google Doodle (November 9, 2015)

This is a google doodle celebrating the 101st birthday of Hedy Lamarr, highlighting her accomplishments that helped in the development of frequency hopping which is used in bluetooth and gps technology today.

• Her birthday, November 9 is also European Inventors Day

Hedy Lamarr:  Inventor of Frequency Hopping on YouTube

Hedy Lamarr: Inventor

See also, Hedy Lamarr, Inventor on Pinterest

5 Facts About Hedy Lamarr, Star, Inventor, Wartime Code Maker

The brilliant mind of Hollywood legend Hedy Lamarr video

• This video helps to differentiate learning because it includes old videos, photos, current interviews, and different speakers to help keep the viewer interested and informed in multiple facets of Hedy Lamarr’s story.
• It even includes Hedy Lamarr’s actual explanation of her thought process in her own voice

Link here for more information about Hedy Lamarr's communication patent!

Lamarr Patent, 1941

Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Invention of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World Richard Rhodes, 2012.

• The book describes how the Hollywood film star was also a scientific inventor who collaborated on the development of spread-spectrum radio, the technology that made wireless phones, GPS systems, and many other devices of our day possible.

                    Click here for a "Most Beautiful Woman by Day, Inventor by Night," an NPR podcast on the book Hedy's Folly by Richard Rhodes

• Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast
• This podcast tells her life as if it is a story--interesting and engaging

Picture Book:  Hedy Lamarr's Double Life:  Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor, Laurie Wallmark.  Illustrated by Kathy Wu.  (Sterling Children's Books, 2019)

NEW Book:  https://evergreenpodcasts.com/professional-book-nerds/marie-benedict-on-the-only-woman-in-the-room

Marie Benedict is the guest of this podcast discussing the enormous unknown story of Hedy Lamarr, from her first marriage to the richest man in Austria, an arms manufactuere, to her inventions in Hollywood. Amazing!