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Hedy Lamarr, Old Hollywood sex symbol, had a brain. It's a fact that may be nearly as overlooked as
the inventor's wartime creation: landmark technology that was a precursor to Bluetooth.
It's not surprising that she's known best for her sultry persona, given her film role that made
everyone sit up and take notice. In 1933's "Ecstasy," a Czech film, she raised eyebrows and drew
condemnation around the globe when she appeared nude in one part of the film and simulated an
orgasm in another.
Lamarr is seen going skinny-dipping and, still without a stitch on, chasing a runaway horse. The
orgasm scene comes later, and, yes, she does smoke a cigarette afterward. "Ecstasy" is considered
the first theatrically released movie to feature an actress simulating an orgasm on screen.
"Algiers" (1938), with Charles Boyer, followed soon after, and Lamarr became a huge star.
Lamarr's invention came about, Rhodes said, because "she was keenly aware of the coming war. She
was glued to the newspaper, reading the stories. ... When German submarines began torpedoing
passenger liners, she felt at that point, 'I've got to invent something that will put a stop to that.' "
Her idea involved making a radio signal "hop around from radio frequency to radio frequency,"
Rhodes said, to interfere with signal jamming. Thus, a torpedo could be radio guided with less fear
of having the signal jammed.
She and a partner obtained a patent, then gave it free of charge to the U.S. Navy. Brilliant, yes?
The Navy "basically threw it into the file," Rhodes said. Later, however, the idea of frequencyhopping was resuscitated by the Navy, and "then the whole system spread like wildfire. The most
well-known application today is Bluetooth."
So why isn't Hedy Lamarr the Inventor a famous name?
The patent had expired, Rhodes said, plus, during most of the device's life it was a military secret.
By the time it came out, it had gone through many permutations with input from various sources.
"She was simply lost in the noise."
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