Sunday, November 9th, would have been screen goddess Hedy Lamarr's 100th birthday*. According to an article on c|net, she helped develop an "early version of spread spectrum communication, which is part of the basis for wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi." She died in 2000.
Here's some interesting facts about her from IMDb:
- Was known as the "most beautiful woman in Hollywood."
- Her invention used the earliest known form of the telecommunications method known as "frequency hopping. It used a piano roll to change between 88 frequencies (there are 88 keys on a piano). It was intended to make radio-guided torpedoes harder for enemies to detect or jam.
- The mansion used in The Sound of Music (1965) belonged to her at the time.
- Was the inspiration for DC Comics Anti-Hero, Catwoman.
- Knew nine languages.
- Volunteered at the Hollywood Canteen.
Signing her autograph in the cement court at the Hollywood Canteen - source (lots of great pictures!)
Doing dishes with actress Mary Gordon in the kitchen of the Hollywood Canteen,
November, 1943 - source
*November 9th was also my grandfather's 100th birthday! Who knew they were born the same day!
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